Catch the latest Enid news and economic development announcements, including business expansions, partnerships, and community milestones.
“Film industry is alive and well in Oklahoma;” Fly Film Festival returns for 7th year
ENID, Okla. — The FLY Film Festival will return for its seventh year to Gaslight Theatre on Aug. 6-7. The festival will begin with a “morning mingle” at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 6, followed by screenings until 7 p.m. with breaks for meals. Saturday’s festivities will begin at 9 a.m. with another “morning mingle” before continuing with screenings and a Q&A panel with local filmmakers. The awards ceremony will begin around 5 p.m. Among the [...]
With more funding expected, Main Street Enid planning more programs, services this year
ENID, Okla. — Enid’s downtown development organization is planning a “bigger and better” year on the heels of its recent accomplishments during the COVID-19 pandemic. With both new and increased funding sources, Main Street Enid has several major events and programs over the next three weekends — and for the second half of 2021 — to support downtown Enid and its businesses. The longtime nonprofit’s next weekend-long program, the statewide initiative Weekend of Local, encourages shoppers to spend [...]
State’s 1st Hope Summit – Community members asked to fill out Hope Assessment
Enid has been selected as the site of the state’s first Hope Summit, and residents throughout Enid and Garfield County are being asked to fill out a community assessment as part of the project. The Hope Summit will be hosted in Enid by First Lady Sarah Stitt on Oct. 7. The purpose of the Hope Summit is to help Enid become a “hope-centered community.” United Way of Enid and Northwest Oklahoma and the Enid Regional [...]
COVID look-back, infrastructure milestones mark mayor’s first State of the City
Enid Mayor George Pankonin marked his first State of the City address by thanking Enid’s residents for doing their part to put COVID-19 in the rear-view mirror. “We always stayed focused on protecting the community not only from the disease but from economic impacts on area businesses,” he said. “There was never a decision that would make everyone happy, so we kept our focus on what was best, not what was perfect.” Pankonin said in [...]
Heartland Economic Development Course Provides Intensive Professional Development
Debbie Moore and Trent Misak of the Enid Regional Development Alliance were two of 170 economic development professionals to attend the Heartland Economic Development Course (HEDC) in April. Heartland attendees receive fundamental economic development training on topics ranging from business, retention and expansion, workforce development, real estate and entrepreneurship to marketing, finance, ethics and managing economic development organizations. The 2021 HEDC online class included representatives from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Colorado, [...]
‘Help wanted’ signs are out in Enid, rest of the country
Drive around Enid and you will notice “Help Wanted” signs in every window. No matter the job, CNA to CPA, employers can’t find the people they need. While it feels like a very specific problem to Enid, it isn’t. Every community in the country is struggling with finding people who can fill open jobs. The inability to fill open positions limits a business’ ability to reach its full earning potential and is the greatest limiting [...]
