Main Street executive director gives report to City Commission

Ponca City Main Street Executive Director Chelsea McConnell presented a report Monday night to City Commissioners on the program’s accomplishments and plans.

Recent events, McConnell said, included a Main Street Mixer on July 16; “Meet the Artist” with muralist Rick Sinnett in August; and the Ponca City Birthday Bash on Sept. 20, in partnership with Alliance Health Ponca City and Ponca City Arts and Humanities.

Coming up are  the Ponca City Main Street Awards Banquet on Oct. 11; Goblins on Grand on Oct. 24; the Fall Ladies’ Night Out on Nov. 1; Small Business Saturday on Nov. 30; and Holiday Open House Weekend Dec. 6-7.

In 2020, a Winter Blues Sale is set for Jan. 3-4, followed by Spring Ladies Night Out March 6 and BrewFest on  April 25, 2020.

The Main Street Awards Banquet will be Friday, October 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. at City Central, McConnell said.
The Award Categories include Best Interior Design, Best Window Display, Best Revitalization Project, Business of the Year, New Business of the Year, Premier Partner, Main Street Hero, and Board Member of the Year.

The 2019 Nominees include The Attic Boutique, Frocks & Fashions, Village Screen Print, Jodi Cline – Edward Jones, Grand Cigar & Lounge, City Central / PCDA, Kevin & Tracy Emmons, The Doodle Academy, Taco Stop, Vortex Alley Brewing, and the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce / Tourism Bureau.

McConnell said the 2019 Reinvestment Figures for Main Street included:

Buildings/Businesses purchased:

• 10 buildings purchased for a total investment of $1,170,500
  • Emmons, MacFox Properties,, OK Elite Athletes purchased buildings
  • Grand Cigar, Gamemasters Guild, Grand Cafe open.

Building rehab and new construction:

• 9 projects with a total investment of $6,106,000
  • Grand Cigar, East Middle School, and Grand Cafe
• Total annual reinvestment: $7,464,819
  • Private project investment: $7,281,000
  • Public investment: $183,819
• Number of volunteer hours in the Main Street Program through August: 2,549
  • Hours valued at $22.18 in Oklahoma
  • Value so far: $56,537

McConnell also said Main Street is entering its third year as a recipient of an Arts Council Grant, and this year will focus on marketing and promotion, as well as the Grand Arts District Committee.

In year one, Main Street developed a strategic plan for the program. In year two, the grant was used to rebrand Ponca City Main Street; develop a new website and an informational video; created a marketing plan for downtown, and focused on social media growth.