The official newsletter of the

Enid Regional Development Alliance www.growenid.com

In This Issue

MedEncentive CEO Seeks to Transform Healthcare

Lesser Prairie Chicken Listed as Threatened

Alva Commits Funds for Water

NW OK Team Tackles Water Planning

Johnston Grain: Far Beyond Humble Beginnings

Become a Member of The Oklahoma Academy

YOU ARE INVITED...

Please join us as we celebrate the groundbreaking of Stonebridge Village, the new retail and commercial corner at Cleveland and Chestnut.

We are very excited about what local developer Gene Anderson is doing at this location. We look forward to seeing you on site at 10 a.m., Wednesday, May 14th. Parking is limited, carpooling is encouraged.

We hope to see you there! RSVP to Debbie at hand@growenid.com or call (580) 233-4232.

SAVE THE DATE!

The Northwest Oklahoma Alliance will host a Networking Luncheon on Friday, June 20th at 11:30 am at the Woodward Convention Center in Woodward, OK. Special guest speaker will be Secretary of Education, Dr. Robert Sommers. To Register or for more information, contact Debbie at (580) 233-4232 or email hand@growenid.com.

AFLATOXIN INFORMATION SESSION - MAY 9TH - 2PM
ENID CONVENTION HALL

You are invited to the USDA Information Session about the dangers of Aflatoxin in Oklahoma's corn crops.

This session will provide the latest information on why Aflatoxin is detrimental long term for Oklahoma producers and how USDA is studying new technology for Aflatoxin testing at the elevator.

The speakers for the event will be Dr. Peter Cotty, Research Plant Pathologist and Lead Scientist for the Agricultural Research Service of the USDA along with David Gibson and Scott Averhoff of the Texas Corn Board. Also speaking will be Dr. Carol Jones, Professor and Research Engineer in Biosystems and Agriculture Engineering from Oklahoma State University.

To register or for more information contact Debbie at (580) 233-4232 or by email: hand@growenid.com

I heard a speaker recently say that the world is run by people who "Show Up."

He was referring to the squeaky wheels in the community and those that are present every time the Rotarian of the month hits that bell. He was talking about the people that actually contribute to quorum being reached on their respective boards and the ones that attend church even when their pastor is on vacation. These are the people that run things.

In this month's newsletter, there are several items listed where you can have an opportunity to show up.

The first one is the Oklahoma Academy for State Goals. Every year, this organization hosts a Town Hall where they allow 150 of Oklahoma's leaders to attend and debate relevant issues from across our state. They compile a report and deliver it to the Governor and Legislative leadership. Last year, of the 150, there were less than 5 people from NW Oklahoma...and the topic was Transportation. A subject we are all very interested in. Next year, the topic is Healthcare...it would be a good place to "show up."

The second opportunity is with the Enid ROOTs program. ROOTs stands for Recognizing the Opportunities Of Tomorrow. It is a local leadership program for students in Garfield County heading into their senior year of high school. The two day event will be August 11-12, 2014 and applications are due June 1st. If you know of any students that are local leaders or local potential leaders, have them contact our office at info@growenid.com for an application. Our goal is to show them the opportunities that await them after graduation in their own hometown. We will be teaching them how to "show up."

Lastly, we would also love to have everyone come out for the groundbreaking of Enid's newest Lifestyle Center at the corner of Chestnut and Cleveland on May 14th. This housing, retail and commercial development is the brainchild of local developer Gene Anderson and we are anxious to celebrate with him that day. We would love to have you "show up."

The other topics covered today in this newsletter could also include a call to action. Listing the Lesser Prairie Chicken will require NW Oklahoma to "show up" and have our voices heard. Planning for long term water needs in our region will require us to "show up" as well.

Northwest Oklahoma is an area on the rise and it will continue to be America's newest Economic Hot Spot. But we've got to "show up" and tell our story.

Brent Kisling

Executive Director

NORTHSTAR CLOSED ON LAND FOR PLANT

PICO Northstar Oklahoma LLC has closed on the purchase of 400 acres of land for a new canola processing plant in Garfield County. When the canola plant is fully operational, it will support 60 full-time jobs and crush 760,000 tons of canola annually. "In addition to the plant's payroll, the bigger impact is the opportunity the refinery will present for regional Oklahoma farmers," Brent Kisling, executive director of Enid Regional Development Alliance, said in a press release issued Monday. "Winter canola, a crop that is well-suited to the climate here and serves as a first-rate rotation crop, is a game-changer for Oklahoma agriculture." Read more...

ENID AND BEYOND: CEO SEEKS TO TRANSFORM HEALTHCARE

The featured speaker at the quarterly meeting of Enid Regional Development Alliance is helping transform health care in Enid and beyond. Jeff Greene, CEO and founder of MedEncentive, spoke to the group about the company that uses a three-point approach to increase effectiveness of health care while reducing its cost. Stan Tatum, CEO of St. Mary's Regional Medical Center and chairman of Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce, introduced Greene. "Jeff Green characterizes himself as an inventor, entrepreneur and a leader in transforming health care," Read more...

FEDS LIST LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKEN AS THREATENED

The Obama administration said Thursday it is placing a grassland grouse known as the lesser prairie chicken on a list of threatened species, a move that could affect oil and gas drilling, wind farms and other activities in five central and southwestern states. The decision by the Fish and Wildlife Service is a step below "endangered" status and allows for more flexibility in how protections for the bird will be carried out under the Endangered Species Act. Dan Ashe, the agency's director, said he knows the decision will be unpopular with governors in the five affected states - Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico - but said the agency was following the best science available. The lesser prairie-chicken is in dire straits," Ashe said in an interview. "The bird is in decline and has been in decline for more than a decade." Read more...

ALVA CITY COUNCIL TO COMMIT FUNDS FOR WATER FUND DEVELOPMENT

A commitment to set aside funds for a water action plan was made Monday by Alva City Council. The council approved including a $10,000 contribution in the 2014-15 fiscal year budget for the Northwest Water Action Team to develop a strategy for managing water resources, said City Manager Joe Don Dunham. Enid Regional Development Alliance Executive Director Brent Kisling said the Northwest Water Action Team has been assembled to take all of the water studies performed in the area - including the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan and water studies in Enid, Canton Lake Association, city of Alva and city of Woodward - and develop an action plan to make sure there is long-term water supply for growth in northwest Oklahoma. The team embarked on its efforts in January and built a mission statement and a scope of work to show what the team will be doing throughout the year to assemble the plan. "In order to accomplish this, we've negotiated a price of $150,000, and Monday night was our first presentation for funding," Kisling said Tuesday. "The city of Alva voted unanimously to support the action plan at the level of $10,000." Read more...

NW OKLAHOMA TEAM TACKLES WATER PLANNING

Brent Kisling wants to change the conversation about water in northwest Oklahoma. The executive director of the Enid Regional Development Alliance wants to ensure that everyone in the region, from residents to municipalities, from industry to agriculture, has access to plenty of water 50 years from now. He wants to accomplish that by consensus. "First, you have to get everyone at the table," he said. Kisling is spearheading the Northwest Oklahoma Water Action Plan Team, which aims to create an assessment of current and future water demand, as well as determine future water supplies. The plan covers 14 counties: Alfalfa, Blaine, Canadian, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Garfield, Grant, Harper, Kay, Kingfisher, Major, Woods and Woodward. The team needs $150,000 to fund a consulting group to develop the plan. On Monday evening, Kisling began a road show of sorts, pitching his plan to the Alva City Council. He asked the nine-member council for $10,000. The council voted unanimously to become a part of the water action plan, and approved the $10,000 Kisling requested. He said he will get more people on board if all water consumers in the region are invested in the action plan. Read more...

FAR BEYOND HUMBLE BEGINNINGS: FOR MEIBERGENS AND JOHNSTON GRAIN IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR

The W.B. Johnston grain elevator towers over Enid like a monument to the Johnston/Meibergen family that began the business 120 years ago. As of this month, the grain business portion of Johnston Enterprises is owned by Louisiana-based CGB Enterprises, a multifaceted agribusiness company that already counted three Oklahoma grain elevators among the 70 Midwest states elevators in its arsenal. Johnston's Port 33, east of Tulsa, now is owned by Arkansas-based Bruce Oakley Inc. Johnston's Port 33 includes ports in Catoosa, Muskogee, Chalmette, La., and Gramercy, La., as well as Johnston's Barge Freight Sales. Lew, Butch and Joey Meibergen, the family members who have been at the company helm since 1976, have grown the company far beyond its humble beginnings as a local seller of grain, seed, flour, coal, hay and livestock. Read more...

THE OKLAHOMA ACADEMY - MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION - JOIN NOW!

The Oklahoma Academy is a statewide nonprofit, nonpartisan, membership organization founded by Governor Henry Bellmon in 1967 to bring public attention to policy issues, provide objective, thorough research and act as a catalyst for positive change. The mission of the Oklahoma Academy is to identify issues facing Oklahoma, provide well-researched, objective information, foster nonpartisan collaboration, develop responsible recommendations, and encourage community and legislative action. The Vision of the Oklahoma Academy is to empower Oklahomans to improve their quality of life through effective public policy development and implementation. Membership in the Academy is open to anyone, especially those interested in the future of Oklahoma now and for generations to come. The Academy has a variety of membership levels. To join the Oklahoma Academy please use PayPal or contact The Academy office at (405) 307-0986 or click here.