The Ponca City Chamber of Commerce Community Development Committee meeting was held on Thursday, September 15 at 10 a.m. in the chamber’s council chamber.
Mindy Meyer opened the meeting.
The first Ponca Politics Forum is scheduled for Friday, September 30 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. and will focus on the state of the city with Mayor Homer Nicholson and Craig Stephenson. The forum will also be streamed live on FaceBook on the Ponca City page.
Ponca City Homecoming is Friday, September 30.
Committee members then provided their updates.
Johnny Thornburgh, Ben Evans, and Dawn Brakey of Pioneer Technology Center (PTC) provided updates.
PTC invited the Ponca City Fire Department this week for ladder training, and they’re gearing up to graduate as a CDL Class B truck driver.
PTC cut the ribbon for its new westward expansion on Tuesday, September 13.
The next 1 Million Cups will take place on Wednesday October 5th.
The Small Business Marketing Courses arrive on September 27 for Email Marketing and October 25 for DIY Video. Both classes start at 10:30 a.m. and cost $15.
PTC is also offering a QuickBooks online course on October 3 and 4 for $150.
The school cafeteria is now open. The menus are posted on the PTC website under the “About” tab.
The cosmetology department will be open for business on October 4.
Next week is National PTAC Day and Brakey will be at Audrey Tech teaching and working with Vance Air Force Base. Next month, she will present at Woodward.
Emily Helling of Ponca City Main Street (PCMS) provided an update. Goblins on Grand is coming October 20 and stalls are going fast with only about 20 spots remaining.
PCMS still sells dashboards for Ice on the Plaza.
Community volunteer Sue Lunsford provided an update for Marland’s Place and the Community Health Foundation.
Marland’s Place expects to be full of houses and meets next week to discuss Cocktails for a Cause.
The Community Health Foundation appeal letters have been sent out and their Meals to Heal will take place on April 28, 2023. This year they will be changing the entry.
Zach Trantham provided an update on tourism.
The visitor’s guide has been updated to include new things happening in the town of Ponca, such as the pottery plaza, ice cream in the plaza, and kayak tours.
The Chamber is making Made in Ponca City bags for upcoming events including motocross and various motorcycle rallies in October.
Tour is doing well with visitors coming to Ponca City from Arizona, California, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Texas , Washington, Germany and other international visitors.
The Chamber is working with two tour groups next month to show various city attractions. The video “What’s Happening Ponca City” has 7000 views.
Ponca City ran two ads in the November/December Oklahoma Today highlighting all of the holiday events in the area.
Ponca City Development Authority (PCDA) is having an event at Pittsburgh State College in Kansas and they want Ponca City Tourism there to help entice people to move to Ponca City.
Kelsey Wagner with Ponca City Monthly and MyMedia-Matters provided an update.
The City Arts Festival will take place on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 September at Cann Gardens.
Ponca City Monthly is working on event sponsorship packages.
Mindy Meyer of Alliance-Health Ponca City provided an update.
Dr. Christine Ground has been moved to Suite 206.
For anyone visiting the hospital who cannot climb stairs, providers will come to see them downstairs in areas set up to see them.
House Speaker Rich Cantillon provided an update from the House.
The 36th Leadership Class held its History Day session on Wednesday, September 14.
Business After Hours will take place on Thursday, September 22, hosted by Equity Bank from 5-7 p.m.
A ribbon cutting will take place for Ponca City Tag Agency at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, September 27.
Another ribbon cutting will take place at the Cell Barn at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, October 4.
The Chamber will be hosting a Customer Service Training on Wednesday, October 5 in preparation for the holiday season in the Ponca Town Chamber Board Room.
The next Cash Mob will take place on Thursday, October 6 at Atwood. The next session of the 36th Leadership Class will focus on Civic and Human Services on Wednesday, October 12.
The next Kindness Campaign meeting will be Thursday, October 13 at the Ponca City Country Club.
The Santa Buck Giveaway campaign will begin next week. The drawing evening will take place on Tuesday, December 20.
The next meeting will be Wednesday, October 19 at 10 a.m.
