GEFCO is closing a plant in Tennessee and moving its operations to Enid.

In a press release, the company said it will end production in Loudon, Tenn., by June.  "All Loudon production will shift to the GEFCO Inc., manufacturing facility in Enid," the release said. The decision to shutter the Loudon plant will impact about 75 GEFCO employees, the company said. "Many of the employees will be offered the opportunity to remain with the company and relocate to Enid," the release stated. GEFCO President Aaron Harmon said it was a "difficult but necessary" decision to shut down the Loudon plant after an efficiency review.  Read more...

While an international news agency is citing confidential sources who claim AdvancePierre is ready to sell its operation, local officials want to talk about the company's growth. Mark Porter, vice president of operations, said the past year was record-setting in terms of production and profitability. There were expansions in a number of areas in the company's customer base. He said AdvancePierre landed several larger customers - including Cracker Barrel and the two largest school districts in the U.S. There also were expansions with grocery chains. "A very exciting 2014, and we're expecting to see similar growth again in 2015, with, again, new products, new customers," he said. However, earlier this month a report from Reuters News Agency said AdvancePierre Foods is preparing for a sale that could value the company at $2 billion. Neither AdvancePierre nor its chief investor, Oaktree Capital Group, responded to Reuters' requests for comment. In January, AdvancePierre acquired sandwich-maker Landshire's wholesale and manufacturing operations, and hopes are high that the acquisition will increase business.  Read more...

Nearly 100 students from across Garfield County entered the contest, and seven were chosen as winners. The seven, and their teachers, won $100. The contest was sponsored by the Enid First Team, which includes Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce, City of Enid, Main Street Enid and Visit Enid. Students could submit a 600-word essay or a 90-second video explaining what they like most about Enid, ranging from the family-like feel to the events and attractions.  Read more...

You may see the second awards video by clicking here or search #WhyILoveEnid on Facebook.

Enid Regional Developmental Alliance has developed a program to help businesses and students alike. Enid Summer Achievers Program started in 2013 and was successful again in 2014. Officials expect no less for 2015.

"We're in the third year to offer Enid Summer Achievers Program," said Lisa Powell, associate director of ERDA. Powell said Enid Summer Achievers allows local businesses a marketing platform for their summer internship positions. ERDA markets the internships businesses are offering through colleges regionally and nationwide, providing a larger pool of applicants for those businesses. "The student applicants still apply directly with the employers," Powell said. This program benefits local businesses with marketing but also benefits the city of Enid by showcasing the community and getting it on the radar for students who graduate and are looking for a community in which to settle. Read more...

Twice the number of homes were permitted last year in Enid than in 2013, according to city figures.  In 2014, contractors filed 62 new residence permits with the city. A year before, there were just 30.  Many of the new homes permitted in 2014 were part of the Chisholm Creek development. David Ritchie has been developing the neighborhood within sight of the far north Van Buren overpass for two decades, and last year kicked off the final phase of the project. His new construction was nudged along in 2014 by the release of a housing study showing the city needs 400 new homes immediately. He said last year he wanted to build 31 homes right away and 15 more each year until the neighborhood is full.  On North Oakwood near Purdue, Ardmore-based developer Lance Windel started work on 30 new homes last year with his company Milestone Homes. Called Tara Estates, the neighborhood saw four permits filed in March and nine permits filed in December.  Read more...

West Garriott is widely considered the busiest commercial strip in the city of Enid, but recent developments along Cleveland may have the north-south street humming with business of its own. Most notably at the intersection of both streets, Hunt Properties has plans to convert a small residential neighborhood into a large retail haven. Further north, developer Gene Anderson has carved out a portion of his Stonebridge Village housing development for a commercial node. Walmart already is constructing one of its Neighborhood Markets there, in the northwest corner of Cleveland and Chestnut. Realtor Cole Ream, with Nicholas Commercial, said many out-of-town businesses that are eyeing Enid have the data that pushes them westward.  Read more...

The day after Valentine's Day offered a great opportunity to experience the versatility of Autry Technology Center.  Autry has a huge impact on our job market around Enid. The educational facility continues to produce desirable graduates to local employers. Autry's open house featured hands-on classroom activities, quality time with instructors, student testimonies and early enrollment discounts on select courses. More than 300 people attended the open house. Visiting guests decorated cake pops and learned about cake decorating. They also learned how pig lungs work similarly to human lungs and toured a house built by construction students. The construction technology and HVACR programs build a house, from the ground up, and auction it in May each year. It's a neat tradition. Health students provided free blood pressure and blood sugar tests. Meanwhile, cosmetology students offered free manicures and hand and arm massages. Mandy Mayberry, director of communications, said Autry has more to offer than just classes. "I think it's a benefit for people who live in Enid, not just potential students, to learn about all the opportunities we provide," she said. "Our ultimate goal is to provide resources to the community."

"We're pleased that sales tax receipts for February are up," City Manager Jerald Gilbert said. "We were down about .67 percent last month for the whole year, fiscal year - from July through January - and now this puts us up, not quite a percent. So, obviously sales were good during the holiday season and we're happy about that."  Reports show Enid has had declines in sales tax receipts - year over year - for one of the two months this year. Overall receipts for this year show a 2.1 percent increase in tax revenue and a $3,277,593 increase in net taxable sales, when compared to receipts for the first two months of 2014. Read more...

Canola acres are all that is holding up construction of a canola processing plant in Enid.  "We're the poster child for a shovel-ready project," Northstar Agri Industries President Neil Juhnke said. "We're happy to be in that position. We're, unfortunately, disappointed by last year's drought." Juhnke noted 50 percent of regional farmers lost crops to the drought.  "When that happens, everybody involved in a project like ours just needs to take a deep breath and let things get back to normal, and move forward when the time is right," he said. Land for the plant was purchased in April 2014. The 400 acres are on the east side of Enid, between 66th and 78th - with Willow to the north and the BNSF Railway main line to the south - about a mile north of U.S. 412. Juhnke said Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality has issued the proper environmental permits needed to support the project, and the railroad has agreed to the needed rail service. The plant has been designed, and local zoning and permitting is done, he said. But the plant will require between 750,000 and 1 million acres of canola to support it.  "If we turn the clock back two years, we saw canola acres double from 2011 to '12," Juhnke said. Read more...

After 5 years of drought, Oklahoma's dwindling water resources have the attention of state lawmakers. There are competing bills to study moving water from southeast Oklahoma to the Altus area, and to encourage self-sufficient,regionally based plans to meet future water needs. Balancing the interests of Oklahomans who have plenty of water with those who desperately need it is a political fight, but not between Republicans and Democrats.  Read more...

Food for Thought is a microgrant funding dinner held by Main Street Enid, Inc. Each dinner features five project proposals selected to be presented at the event. Each project presenter gets five minutes to tell how their project will have a positive impact on downtown Enid.  "We were inspired by Detroit Soup, a similar event in Detroit, and Sunday Soup, a website with a collection of similar events all over the world, " said Kelly Tompkins, director of Main Street Enid. "We adjusted what others do and made it fit our community and mission."  For $15, everyone gets dinner and a vote, and that money becomes the grant money awarded to the winning project. Main Street Enid is also able to partner with the Enid Regional Development Alliance and Park Avenue Thrift who provide matching funds to the admission fees, turning every $15 into $45 toward the winning project. Read more...

A plan to let local economic development officials lease land at Northern Oklahoma Resource Center of Enid stalled in a state Senate committee Wednesday. State Sen. Patrick Anderson, R-Enid, showed up at the committee to present the bill and was surprised when the chairwoman, state Sen. Kim David, announced it would not be heard this week.  David, R-Porter, could not be reached. Senate Bill 546 faces opposition from Office of Management and Enterprise Services, which oversees state-owned real estate assets. In an email sent to Anderson late Tuesday night, OMES liaison Dana Webb said giving up the option to sell land at NORCE is untenable while the state is undergoing budget shortfalls elsewhere. "The property has the potential to be sold for considerable value that could generate millions," she wrote. Read more...