BUILDING ADA'S FUTURE: INDUSTRY, INNOVATION, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
May 30, 2025 by Daniel Castaneda
BY: SUNNIE DAWN BAKER
As the local economic development organization, Grow Ada, formerly known as the Ada Jobs Foundation, is well positioned to facilitate in our community’s continued success. While there are many things that Grow Ada does, Carol Ervin, President and CEO says, “Our primary focus for the next two years will be marketing Ada to manufacturing industries as well as continuing our focus on technology development and entrepreneurship.” This strategy allows for this organization to help promote multiple economic sectors, diversifying their efforts to make the community stronger and more resilient.
Ervin is excited to market Ada to potential manufacturers. While we might not be on an interstate, we do have an excellent quality of life and that can go a long way towards recruiting new industries to our community. This is another benefit to having a local economic development organization; they know the community and can highlight the qualities that make Ada great—things that might not necessarily show in impersonal data points. Grow Ada’s deep roots and a 28 year history is uniquely qualified to advocate for Ada.
One way that Grow Ada markets Ada is by attending trade shows and capitalizing on opportunities where site selectors will be. One example of this is the EAA AirVenture, which takes place in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Ervin will be attending this show in July to promote Ada’s Airport Industrial Park. This is the largest aviation gathering in the world and has hands-on workshops and forums, giving Ervin access to manufacturers on a global scale. While aviation and aerospace continue to grow statewide, Ada has positioned itself well to recruit these industries, especially with the opportunities at the airport, the success of GAMI/Tornado Alley Turbo, and the innovative aviation curriculum in the Ada School System.
While industries are important to our community, it is also important to diversify ones economic strategies. This is where technology development and entrepreneurship play a role. Technology-focused startups can have a large impact on a local economy. Not only can they bring money into the community, but they can also provide good jobs with good wages. However, communities must promote an environment that actively supports and encourages these efforts. This is why Grow Ada hosts monthly Tech Meetups to bring local tech workers together. They also lead efforts to expand digital skilling opportunities in the community, helping grow the tech workforce to meet business needs and encourage entrepreneurship.
While tech entrepreneurship is a priority at Grow Ada, so, too, is grass roots entrepreneurship. East Central University and Pontotoc Technology Center offer many resources for entrepreneurs, but it’s also important for aspiring small business owners who aren’t students to have access to support and information. Grow Ada hosts monthly workshops to help entrepreneurs and small business owners and also offers one-on-one consultations, allowing these individuals to have an objective and impartial springboard for their ideas while also receiving help with business planning and resources.
Industry, technology, and entrepreneurship—these three focuses can help Ada’s economy become more vibrant and prosperous We must market our community to outside industries, while also growing the local economy by encouraging budding entrepreneurs to start their own businesses and by providing the resources they need to succeed. This multi-pronged approach, working in cooperation with the City of Ada and other organizations, will help Ada become the best version of itself and provide opportunities and growth to the benefit of future generations.
Written by
Daniel Castaneda
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