Economic Development News for the Ada Area

July 2017

Leadership Changes to Ada Jobs Foundation

Board of Directors


Outgoing AJF Board Member Ed Anderson is thanked for his service by AJF Interim President James Eldridge

In July the Ada Jobs Foundation (AJF) welcomed new officers and members to the AJF Board of Directors, while thanking others for their service as they rotate off of the Board.

Serving on the 2017-2018 AJF Executive Committee are: Board Chair Lori Wightman with Mercy Hospital Ada, Vice-Chair Tim Elliott with Redland Childers Architects, Secretary/Treasurer Robyn Elliott with The Chickasaw Nation, and Past Chair Kenny Howard with OGE Energy Corp.


Kenny Howard, AJF's Outgoing Board Chair, "Looks forward to Ada Jobs continued success" and will remain on the Board as past chair

"These are exciting times for Ada," said incoming Board Chair Lori Wightman, "I think we have a unique window of opportunity in the next 3-5 years to make tremendous progress in terms of economic development."

Incoming board members will each serve a three year term. Those inducted to the board are Jim Lawson, Business and Industry Services Industrial Coordinator at Pontotoc Technology Center and John Long, President of Network Marketing and Sales at LegalShield. Having just served but re-upping for another term is Lucas Clark, Senior Vice President of First United Bank.

After serving three years, those rotating off of the Board include Ed Anderson with Boadie L Anderson Quarries and Tom Criswell with Criswell Funeral Home.

"Thank you to Ed Anderson, Lucas Clark, and Tom Criswell for their leadership over the past three years," said AJF outgoing Board Chairman Kenny Howard, "Our community has benefited from their guidance."

For a full list of AJF Board of Directors and Ex-Officio and Advisory Board members visit growada.com

Growing Local Business - BRE & Incubators

AJF's James Eldridge is pictured with Peter Kenyon. Peter did a session on Asset Based Community Development (ABCDE) and engaging community members as central to BR&E efforts and economic development.

Local companies are critical to a community's economic growth. Nearly 80 percent of new jobs come from existing businesses already located and invested in a community, yet, many rural communities struggle to find meaningful ways to support their greatest asset - local businesses.

Business Retention & Expansion (BRE) is a fundamental strategy for economic sustainability and growth. BR&E programs meet with local companies and listen to their concerns. Red flag issues are noted and addressed. Data is gathered from these visits, and BR&E programs can use this local data to develop targeted programs and strategies for local industries. In this sense, a BR&E program creates a kind of "intelligence" about the local economy and can help local organizations and officials make better, targeted decisions to assist local companies grow.

AJF's James Eldridge attended the Business Retention and Expansion International Conference (BREI) to learn more about implementing BRE efforts in Ada, Oklahoma. Read more about AJF partnering with the Pontotoc Technology Center to plan and implement a continuous BRE program.

Entrepreneurship programs are also becoming an increased focus of Ada's work with local businesses. Business incubators are a well known and effective method to encourage the growth of local businesses and entrepreneurs. Incubators typically provide affordable commercial spaces, administrative support services, networking opportunities, and a range of seminars and workshops designed to foster and accelerate small business growth.

Across Oklahoma there are 40+ certified business incubators. Many are located and run by local technology center's such as the long established Pioneer Technology Center in Ponca City, independently run and operated like The Forge in Tulsa, or are founded by an economic development entity, such as the newly established Startup 405 in Norman. In Ada we have an incubator at Pontotoc Technology Center and an Arts Incubator on East Main Street run by East Central University.

The Ada Jobs Foundation joined several other communities in becoming a member of the Oklahoma Business Incubator Association (OkBIA). The Jobs Foundation hopes to learn from this group as we develop new strategies to support local entrepreneurs and create a connection between people who manage incubators and people in economic development offices around the state. There is a great potential for these different organizations to work together to increase the capacity to assist local entrepreneurs as the develop new business ideas and support small businesses.

EAA - Spirit of Aviation Conference

Left to Right: Jared Patton from Bartlesville, Chaney Larsen from Stafford Air and Space Museum/Weatherford, James Eldridge from Ada, Lisa Powell from Enid, and Vince Howie from Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Others not pictured include Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission, Guthrie, Edmond, Ardmore, and Shawnee.

Representatives from Ada partnered with the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission and communities around the state to promote Oklahoma at the EAA - The Spirit of Aviation event in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Aviation is a key industry for both Ada as well as the state of Oklahoma, and the partners in the group promote Oklahoma as a desirable place for aviation business and activity.

Over 560,000 people attended the Oshkosh event including hundreds of companies. Staff was able to talk to a number of current Oklahoma companies, including Ada's own GAMI/Tornado Alley along with a number of prospective companies in the aviation industry. The partner group from Oklahoma operates a booth which promotes Oklahoma companies, airports, and aviation related events.

The week culminated in a luncheon reception for Oklahoma pilots, companies, and anyone with an interest in Oklahoma. The luncheon featured Senator Inhofe, Congressman Russell, and Louisiana Congressman Ralph Abraham.

Oklahoma Luncheon at the EAA air show in Oshkosh Wisconsin. Thank you Senator Inhofe, Congressman Russell, and Louisiana Congressman Ralph Abraham for attending.