Ponca City has growth spurt

Ponca City is getting more than just new restaurants. It’s getting a new pre-school, which will be on N. Turner. Along with two new, big houses in Fox Run Estates and that could be more by the end of the year. There is also a possibility of another hotel.

Chris Henderson, City Development Manager said remodels are also bringing a hefty amount of money

"Pet Sense is doing an interior remodel, and part of the remodel will include grooming facilities and some other things," Henderson said.

Dorada Foods is also doing $17 million worth of remodels and expansions.

Adding in all these projects brings the community to $40 million in building permits this year. Henderson said this is a huge jump since the recession in 2009.

"The permit data from 2009 totaled only about $9 million and it has gone up steadily ever since," Henderson said. "It went from 9 million to 14 million to 20 million to 25 million, then last year to 32 million."

Henderson said Ponca City has been lucky enought the last two years to get a lot of national franchises. Henderson gets the attention of these national franchises at the two conferences he attends each year. One is in Las Vegas and the other in Dallas. He said these last two years at the conferences have been very successful.