Enid Chamber of Commerce

'09 - '10 Community Development Initiatives
 Programs with Enid Chamber Participation and Support

• Approving the $99.5 million Enid Public Schools bond issue was a huge step forward for our city.  Coupled with $3.4 million in donations from nine businesses and individuals (largest private contribution ever to an Oklahoma school district), the school bond is   financing important facility needs including two new schools, increased technology, and improvements to every school in the district.

• Several Chamber and community committees helped provide public input on potential downtown improvements. Enhancing Enid’s downtown development is crucial for business attraction and retention, growth of Enid’s tourism industry, improving quality of life, and retaining families.

• Through cooperative efforts between the Retail Task Force and the City of Enid, a retail consultant is being utilized to help retain and recruit retailers. A trade area study was conducted to identify market characteristics and retail gaps. Enid has received interest from several national chains.

• Enid Regional Development Alliance, Enid Chamber, Main Street Enid, and OSU Extension are partnering to offer the Enid PRIDE Program.  PRIDE (Producing, Resourceful, Informed, and Devoted Employees) is a customer service training program for employees who interact with the public regularly (retailers, hospitality industry, other businesses).

• Chamber and Enid Convention and Visitors Bureau board members encouraged the City of Enid to provide additional resources for tourism development.

• The Enid Chamber coordinated the Businesses as Mentors Program in EPS fifth grade classrooms, thus exposing more children to Enid area jobs and career paths.

• CDSA, Autry Technology Center, Enid Regional Development Alliance, and the Enid Chamber co-sponsored the Economic Summit on Early Childhood Investment. The summit emphasized the importance of investing in human capital in the early years.

• An ODOT grant and City of Enid and private sector funding are being used to upgrade 66th Street at the airport. Aircraft Structures has begun a facility expansion at the airport that will add jobs. An airport Foreign Trade Zone application has been submitted.

• With CDSA as the lead agency, the Roosevelt Park 48-unit apartment complex opened on the east side. 28 single family units are also scheduled to break ground on the east side.

• Coordinated federal legislative trip to Washington, DC (topics included Vance AFB projects, economic development, transportation, education, school bond passage).

• Organized Enid Day at the Capitol (topics included Oklahoma Mid-Size Cities Coalition, airport projects, alternative energy, highway funding, state incentives, budget shortfall).

• New web sites were developed for the Enid Chamber, ECVB, and Development Alliance. The web sites interface and utilize the “Come Home to Excellence, Come Home to Enid” theme to promote Enid’s business climate, quality of life, and tourism assets.

• Coordinated community events (Candy Cane Cash, Cherokee Strip, NWDJLS, Camp Tomahawk, Enlisted Appreciation, Noon Network, Business After Hours, Student & Teacher awards).

• Ambassadors conducted numerous ribbon cuttings/groundbreakings and provided volunteer support at many Chamber and community events.