PCDA Receives Two Economic Development Awards

Ponca City Development Authority received two Silver Excellence in Economic Development Awards for its 2015 project in the categories of Sustainable and Green Development and Business and Retention Programs for communities with populations of 25,000 to 200,000. The awards were from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).

The honor was presented at an awards ceremony during the 2015 IEDC Annual Conference, which was held Oct. 4-7, in Anchorage, Alaska.

“From localized community projects, to large-scale endeavors, economic development efforts have played a vital role in the global economy ,” said JoAnn Crary, CEcD, Chair of the International Economic Development Council and President of Saginaw Future Inc .

“ As we address new and longstanding challenges, these efforts continue to take on even greater importance. The award serves as a salute to pacesetting organizations like The Ponca City Development Authority f or leading the charge," she said.

The Lighten the Load Project is a lighting upgrade project for local Ponca City industries. Industries can participate in upgrading old T-12 fluorescent, high pressure sodium or metal halide lighting to the newest T-8, T-5 fluorescent and LED technology.

These upgrades have saved as much as 65 percent on lighting energy usage. Each participating company in this program is given a free lighting audit to assess usage and lighting needs.

After the audit, a presentation to the company includes lighting schematics, energy rebates being offered by the City of Ponca City and Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority for energy reduction and total cost of the project for the company. If the company does not have the up-front capital for the project, a local bank offers project loans based on the future energy savings as collateral. These lighting updates, to date, have cut six million Kilowatt hours and saved our companies more than $500,000 in utility costs.

Recipients of IEDC’s Excellence in Economic Development Awards demonstrate to an experienced panel of judges that they are at the forefront of the economic development profession. They are recognized as the world’s best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials, and the year’s most influential leaders. These awards honor organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban and rural communities.

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Pictured from left are JoAnn Crary, Chair of the IEDC BoArd of Directors; Laurence Beliel, PCDA Director of Business Retention & Expansion; David Myers, PCDA Executive Director and Karen Dickson, Chair of the IEDC Awards Committee.