The Edmond Sun

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April 15, 2008

City issues first enhancement fund request

Petra Industries plans $800,000 expansion

James Coburn

EDMOND — The Edmond City Council approved a request Monday from Petra Industries for funding by the Edmond Electric Economic Development Fund. In further action, the council voted to approve the extension of the commercial site plan for the Bridges at Spring Creek Shopping Center, east of Bryant Avenue and north of 15th Street bordering Hafer Park.

An enhancement package will pay $1,576 of construction permit fees for Petra’s building expansion. The Edmond Economic Development Authority Enhancement Package benefits companies that create new jobs. Forty new jobs likely will be added to Petra’s workforce.

“We are obviously very grateful for that and appreciate the City Council for approving it,” Petra Industries Executive Vice President Tish Zitzow said this morning. “We love being an Edmond company.”

Petra Industries is a local manufacturer of electronics accessories and appliance connection supplies for national wholesale distribution.

The business has burgeoned from 38 employees to more than 175 full-time workers since owner Bill Stewart relocated the business from Oklahoma City to Edmond in 1999.

“We’ve had this (program) in hand with funding in place for five years now,” said Larry Stevens, city manager. “We’re happy to say it’s the first application that we’ve received funding. We hope to use this as a springboard to generate additional interest among businesses in our community.”

Business growth brings Petra Industries into its third significant construction phase by altering warehouse space into office space, said Janet Yowell, EEDA executive director.

“With this, they will be adding more jobs — the kind of jobs we want to add to our community,” Yowell said.

Petra Industries’ existing 105,000-square-foot facility will gain 14,000 square feet of development — an $800,000 expansion of its facility.

Zitzow said she approached EEDA in 2007 to tell them about Petra Industries’ growth and how their constant need to expand is costly.

A company’s eligibility to benefit from the enhancement package is determined by the EEDA. Companies are required to provide a significant capital investment. A minimum of 10 new jobs is required with an average wage of $30,000 for salaried employees or $10 an hour for hourly employees.

“I want to thank Edmond Electric and the council for creating this fund. We hope to be doing more business as well,” Yowell said.

Ward 4 Councilman David Miller said he’s happy to see a business finally be awarded the fund. “I can’t think of anybody better,” he said.

More discussion was needed before approval was given to extend the commercial site plan for the Bridges at Spring Creek Shopping Center. Urban Forester Carrie Tomlinson said Sooner Development has defined areas for tree preservation. Several areas of landscaping will be provided including near the retaining wall and fenced area separating the shopping center from Spring Creek, said Randel Shadid, the attorney representing Sooner Development.

Nearby homeowner and Edmond Neighborhood Alliance member Lydia Lee asked that a condition be added to the site plan stipulating there be no dirt disturbance within the area until building permits are issued.

“Part of the problem is we have a history with this particular developer at Target and Lowe’s where significant tree preservation was ‘oops’ mowed down,” Lee said. “... So we have a real concern with the dirt disturbance in this area.”

Although no terrain has yet been disturbed for construction, Sooner Development already has been issued “disturbing earth permits” blessed by the city, Shadid said. Some dirt work will be done soon due to contracts. Earth in part of the western half of the project will not be disturbed until tenants are designated and ready, Shadid said.



jcoburn@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 114

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