News, Updates & Coming Events
|
|
From the Executive Director
|
|
At long last!
It’s been a year of re-imagining our goals, re-aligning our assets, and doubling down on our work to expand opportunities for citizens and businesses in the Enid area. As the regional, metropolitan hub of commerce, shipping, shopping, and medical care for northwest Oklahoma, Enid has a lot going on. Businesses recognize the excellent location we offer with low cost utilities, efficient transportation, available land, and a dedicated, well trained workforce. Our existing businesses are growing and we have a list of companies that are interested in joining our community.
This year we have seen announcements across town from east to west. Woodring Regional Airport opened its brand new, expanded terminal building including a passenger lounge and a briefing room for VAFB. TP&L has added 80 acres to their transload facility on 66
th street where they are bringing in and storing the wind components for this entire region. Downtown Enid continues to add public art in all forms which is adding to its vibrant appeal. The District is under development at Cleveland and Garriott with a Hideaway Pizza, a Jiffy Trip, a Colton’s Steakhouse, and other retail spaces. On the far west side, we have a beautiful new 8500’sf Jiffy Trip serving locals and our neighbors from the northwest.
Even with these steps forward there is much work to be done. ERDA is working diligently to set priorities for our community growth. Stay tuned as we talk more about how we can expand our amenities, attract new families to grow with us, and offer the best employment opportunities in the region.
Sincerely,
Lisa Powell
Executive Director
|
|
|
October 29th at 9:00 am
11:30 am
1:00 pm
NwOA Board of Directors Meeting
Woodward Conference Center
October 30th at 12 pm
EYP Monthly Board Meeting
October 31st at 10:00 am
Regular Meeting at Autry Technology Center
November 4th at 10:00 am
Autry Technology Center Room 103
Steering Committee Meeting
November 7th at 12pm
Advisory Committee Meeting
Strate Center Boardroom
November 7th at 4:30 pm
Putnam 6 Bookstore, Sunset Plaza
November 14th at 10:00 a.m.
Board of Directors Meeting
Autry Technology Center
Click on the link provided to get more information about an event or the professional organization! If you have questions about an event, call the ERDA office at (580) 233-4232.
|
|
The 2020 Census and What it Means for Enid
On Wednesday, April 1, 2020, the Census will count our population and gather the data that will impact funding for our community for the next 10 years. It’s vital to the growth of Enid that we raise awareness about the importance of “Counting everyone once, only once and in the right place.” Why Respond? The Census data determines funding for hospitals, fire departments, roads, and many other resources we depend on. The Census also determines the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives. It is estimated that each person counted in the Census brings $1,600 in funding for our community. In 2020 we expect Enid to have grown from a population of 49,379 to over 52,000 – let’s make sure we are all counted to ensure we get our share of funding.
. Read more..
.
|
|
Developer says movie theater main reason behind
The District
Kyle Williams, developer behind The District, provided an update on where things stand with the project Monday, Oct. 21, 2019. Demolition work is complete and utility installation is beginning on the 20-acre development at the corner of Cleveland and Garriott. “We hope, Lord willing, in 120 days we’ll have street and utilities ready for the property,” Williams told members of Enid Rotary Club. One lane of traffic along Garriott currently is closed as workers construct curbing around the development. Hideaway Pizza, Colton’s Steakhouse and the Jiffy Trip convenience store chain, of which Williams is president, all have signed on to The District. In addition to a 7.1 acre lot set aside for a future movie theater, a 13,000-square-foot shopping center will be constructed as well. According to Williams, two national companies are interested in the shopping center, and currently are looking at lease rates. The promise of a new theater is a primary reason why Williams decided to strike a deal with the city of Enid and purchase up the properties that made up the 20-acre parcel formerly called Lahoma Courts, and develop something new.
Read more...
|
|
Nextlink Internet Facility Groundbreaking
Rural internet service in Northern Oklahoma will be more accessible,reliable and affordable as a new company, Nextlink Internet, comes to the Enid area. Nextlink Internet, based in Hudson Oaks, Texas, is a provider of high-speed internet and voice services to residential, business, institutional and government customers in mostly rural and small-town areas using a mix of fixed wireless and
|
|
Northwest Oklahoma Counties Account for $328 Million of ODOT’s 8-Year Plan
Oklahoma Department of Transportation approved an eight-year, $6.5 billion construction plan to improve the state’s infrastructure through the repair and renovation of roads and bridges across the state. While some of the most expensive undertakings are set in metropolitan areas like Oklahoma City and Tulsa, dozens of projects are planned from 2020-27 for Northwest Oklahoma as well. Based on ODOT cost estimates, hundreds of millions will be spent on Garfield and surrounding counties.
Read more...
|
|
Vance Commander Discusses Base Needs
Col. Corey Simmons, commander of the 71st Flying Training Wing at Vance Air Force Base, gave an update on the base during a talk Thursday at Enid Regional Development Alliance’s quarterly meeting. Simmons discussed Vance’s relationship with Enid, ongoing developments at the base and future needs he hopes to see addressed. Overall student production is up by 34 percent from fiscal year 2017 to 2021,
Read more...
|
|
Autry Tech Expanding Its Off-Campus Footprint, Adding Programs and Facilities
With the purchase of the former Zaloudek’s Marine property, Autry Technology Center expanded its footprint by four acres, its facilities by 30,000 square feet, and the CareerTech school is preparing to put it all to use. Based on input from area businesses, Autry is creating a pair of new programs for the site. “One of our main priorities is to find new and innovative ways to better serve our business and industry partners in the community,” Autry Superintendent Brady McCullough said.
Read more...
|
|
New Airport Director Introduced at Woodring
Enid Aviation Advisory Board met in a special session Monday and greeted new Enid Woodring Regional Airport Director Deirdre Gurry, who will assume the position Friday, when current director Dan Ohnesorge retires. Looking back on his 11 years as director at Woodring, Ohnesorge said the job “has been a lot of fun.”
Ohnesorge came to the job in 2008, after retiring from the Air Force as a colonel in 2003 and serving a stint as program manager for CSC Applied Technologies LLC, then the primary civilian contractor at Vance Air Force Base. His last post on active duty was as vice commander of the 71st Flying Training Wing at Vance.
Read more...
|
|
Extending Vance Air Force Base-Community Ties Through Art and Technology
In my 17 years of serving in the Air Force, Vance is the most unique assignment I have had. Ask anyone to describe what it’s like to be stationed at Vance and it won’t take long before the conversation steers itself toward the size of the base. Not literally, as in miles and meters, but in total populace. The “Vance experience” is often described as being similar to a remote tour, just stateside. That definition alludes to the strong relationships that are formed at Vance. Those bonds not only stretch across the 71st Flying Training Wing, they flow through the main gate and thread throughout the entirety of the local Enid community.
Read more...
|
|
Jiffy Trip Open
Jiffy Trip opened its first Enid location Aug. 28th, a spokeswoman for the convenience store chain confirmed. Construction began in 2018 on the 6,000-square-foot store at the northeast corner of Garland and Garriott, and a second is planned for The District development at Cleveland and Garriott. “We are excited to design and build a Jiffy Trip convenience destination in Enid — our hometown,” Kyle Williams said in 2017. “We have wanted to do this for a long time bringing jobs and revenue to the
|
|
The new Enid Woodring Regional Airport terminal wasn't quite complete, but close enough for a scheduled ribbon-cutting ceremony — with local, state and national officials attending. Dozens were invited to tour the nearly finished facility, no hard hats necessary. Among the crowd were Enid Mayor George Pankonin, city commissioners, representatives from Vance Air Force Base and U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe.Inhofe, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, piloted himself in for the ceremony and applauded Enid for continuing to invest in aviation infrastructure.
Read more...
|
|
ERDA Welcomes Trent Misak to Team
Enid Regional Development Alliance is adding a new project manager to the team, the nonprofit organization announced. Trent Misak, a recent member of Enid Public Schools Board of Education and current member of the Enid Young Professionals, has been hired for the role, an ERDA release said, calling him a “natural fit.” “We’ve worked with Trent in many capacities over the years and can’t wait to have him join the ERDA team as a project manager,” Lisa Powell, ERDA executive director, said. “We have many projects taking place and know he will be invaluable to our efforts.” Misak holds degrees in communications, public relations and organizational leadership, the release said, “and has extensive experience engaging community stakeholders.”
Read more...
|
|
Enid's cultural and historic diversity is reflected throughout our city in a vibrant array of sculptures and murals. Just take a stroll downtown and you will find a few of these beautiful and unique works of art.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
