Education and

industry sectors
work together to
build workforce

ALSO INSIDE:
State, regional economic
development perspectives
 OKLAHOMA PROUD
More than 50 years ago, Tom Love founded Love’s Travel Stops &
Country Stores in Oklahoma.
Today, Love’s serves Customers at more than 430 locations across the
country, and we are proud to say we are still family-owned and operated
from our home state.
To learn more, visit us at loves.com

1-800-OK-LOVES
www.loves.com
BUY YOUR HOME,
NOT A SALES PITCH.

Buying the place you’ll call home is one of the most important
decisions you can make. Since 1905, we’ve been helping people
through the financing process with efficiency and refreshing
simplicity. Because we have access to more lending choices and
experienced professionals who rely on knowledge, not sales pitches,
you can just relax and feel, well, right at home.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
8............. Reasons for Doing Business in Oklahoma
12............ Business Climate
FEATURES 16............ Workforce
4 From the Governor 18............ Market Access/Location/Infrastructure
20............ Incentives
5 Feature article - When education
22............ FDI & Trade
and industy work together 23............ Demographics
24............ Quality of Life
25............ Oklahoma Department of Commerce
Contact Information

48 Northwest

30 Tulsa Metro 36 Northeast

44 Southwest

26 OKC Metro 40 Southeast

2 2017 Location Oklahoma
FROM T H E G O V E R N O R

Welcome to
Location Oklahoma! For copies of this
publication contact:
The Journal Record
Throughout this publication, you will learn Publishing Co.
why Oklahoma is the best place in the nation to live, 101 N. Robinson Ave., Ste. 101
work, invest and raise a family. Oklahoma City, OK 73102
405.235.3100
We have a world-class higher education system, JournalRecord.com
and we are working hard to ensure our workforce
is ready to meet the demands of a global economy. Capitol Bureau 2300 N.
Our low cost of living and high quality of life makes, Lincoln Blvd.,
Oklahoma an attractive, affordable option for Room 431,
businesses and families. Oklahoma City, OK 73105
405.524.7777
Each region of Oklahoma is unique. In this
publication, you have access to vital market
information and economic data so you will know
which region best aligns with the needs of your
company. In addition, you can read about what Associate Publisher
we do as a state to incentivize all businesses from & Editor
startups to international corporations. Ted Streuli

Gov. Mary Fallin My top priority as governor is to make our state Advertising Director
as business-friendly as possible and to help existing Sarah Barrow
businesses grow while creating more opportunities
for Oklahoma families Advertising Account
Managers
We have made a lot of progress in recent years Vicki Madden
at the state Capitol to make it easier for businesses Wendy Duncan
to thrive. We have focused on education and Laura Watts
workforce training, kept low taxes, eliminated red Cassie Dodd
tape and made state government more efficient and Rich Jamison
effective.
Special Publications Editor
So, when you are looking for a place to expand, Jessica Mitchell
relocate or develop your business, look no further
than the great state of Oklahoma! Copy and Web Editor
Ron Clay
Sincerely,
Writers
Jennifer Sharpe
Heide Brandes
Mary Fallin
Governor
Designer
Michael Duntz

Special thanks to the Oklahoma

Educati
industry
on and
sectors
ether to
Department of Commerce
and Oklahoma Department
work tog
rkforce
build wo

To view the digital version of this issue, go to: of Tourism for contributing
JournalRecord.com/location-oklahoma photographs for this publication.
Additional photography provided
IDE:
ALSO INS economic
A by Journal Record photographers
Brent Fuchs and James Gibbard.
nal
State, regio ectives
ent persp
developm

4 2017 Location Oklahoma

 EDUCATION AND INDUSTRY SECTORS
work together to build workforce

A Tulsa Community College aviation student performs a pre-flight check.
Courtesy photo of TCC
T
By Jennifer Sharpe
he United States is projected to face a pilot
shortage of nearly 15,000 by 2026, according
to a study by the University of North
Dakota’s Aviation Department. With a shortage
on the horizon, Tulsa Community College and
Christiansen Aviation continue their partnership
aimed at closing that gap.
Christiansen Aviation has provided TCC’s avia-
tion programs with aircraft and maintenance sup-
port for the professional pilot degree program for
more than 20 years. Christiansen Aviation currently
provides six aircraft to support single- and multi-en-
gine training for student use. This fleet of aircraft
is essential for TCC students to earn a professional
pilot degree and to achieve certificates and ratings
from the Federal Aviation Administration.
“I am just a small part of an organization that
does a great job training pilots and fulfilling the
needs of the aviation industry in Oklahoma,” said
Bill Christiansen, owner of Christiansen Aviation.
“TCC is providing such a valuable service because
there is a need for pilots and a need for air traffic
controllers.”
Christiansen Aviation´s support allows students
to become well-rounded professional pilots and
gain the aeronautical knowledge necessary to think
critically and to serve as pilots in multiple seg-
ments of the aviation industry.
“We have these relationships so that the students
are ultimately rewarded, and the industry wins
because they get a strong employee trained well by
TCC,” Christiansen said.
This long-standing partnership was among those
recognized in March with the annual Oklahoma
State Regents for Higher Education’s Business
Partnership Excellence Awards.
The state regents coordinate the state’s higher
education system of 25 colleges and universities,
which play a role in economic development for the
state both in terms of attracting new companies to
Oklahoma and for companies expanding within
the state.
The regents also maintain OKHigherEdConnect.
org, a database of business resources designed to
connect businesses and Oklahoma’s higher education
institutions.
“Businesses often seek research expertise and
business assistance from campuses to maximize
economic growth,” said Angela Caddell, associ-
ate vice chancellor for communications for the
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
“Through outreach and extension, institutions pro-
vide much needed technical and research support
that helps business and industry improve their
competitiveness.”

2017 Location Oklahoma 5

 Public higher education institutions
also provide business training for new
employees or the current workforce.
“These specialized training courses
are delivered on the company’s work
site, online or on campus,” Caddell said.
“They include leadership training for
hospitals, EMS training for local ambu-
lance services, safety and driving train-
ing, and ACT prep camps for students, as
well as ISO 9001 training in quality man-
agement systems. Specialized training
also includes continuing education for
industries such as insurance, pharmacy
and law enforcement.”
Additionally, the state regents’ Work-
force and Economic Development Divi-
sion provides project assistance to the
Department of Commerce’s Business
Location Division to assist companies
that are looking to relocate or expand to
Oklahoma.
CareerTech also provides valuable ser-
vices to new and expanding businesses in
Oklahoma. Governed by the State Board
of Career and Technology Education, Ca-
reerTech comprises 29 technology center
districts across the state.
“Growing Oklahoma’s economy
largely depends on the ability of technol-
ogy centers to provide startup training
for new and expanding companies, and
often requires customized and flexible
training to ensure a skilled workforce,”
said Gina Hubbard, manager of adult
partnerships and customized services at
the Oklahoma Department of Career and
Technology Education.
CareerTech’s Training for Industry
program provides training for new com-
panies in Oklahoma or for existing Okla-
homa companies that want to expand
their workforce.
“It also provides leadership to tech-
nology centers across the state to assist
in building lasting partnerships with
companies while providing high-quality
training, so the company can be produc-
tive from day one.”
Customized Industry and Safety Train-
ing is designed for the employees of one
6 2017 Location Oklahoma
or more specific groups of businesses, in-
dustries or public sector organizations.
When the small management team of
The Pioneer Woman Mercantile faced
the daunting task of training dozens of
employees to open the business last year,
they turned to an area technology center
for help.
“We had 150 employees hired to
start on the first day, but a very small
management team, and so throughout
training and opening, Tri County Tech
team became an adjunct to the manage-
ment team, dedicated to getting the store
opened and getting staff trained,” said
Taylor Potter, director of operations for
The Pioneer Woman Mercantile.
Popular blogger and author Ree
Drummond and her husband opened the
destination general store/deli/bakery
in a renovated building in downtown
Pawhuska.
“Tri County Tech was an invaluable
component to the Merc getting estab-
lished and opening,” Potter said.
Tri County Technology Center pro-
vided customer service training from
a team perspective, showcasing The
Pioneer Woman’s hospitality and also
incorporating a history of Pawhuska. Tri
County also conducted all safety training
for the opening staff, and currently con-
tinues to perform all new hire and safety
training. More than 250 employees have
been trained by Tri County Tech for the
Mercantile.
“Technology centers are encouraged to
analyze the training needs of industries
within their communities, and design
training programs for those companies,”
Hubbard explained. “In doing so, this
often leads to increased productivity of
the business and increases the likelihood
of a company expanding and adding new
jobs to the workforce.” 
CareerTech also administers the Okla-
homa Bid Assistance Network program,
which provides assistance to businesses
wanting to work with federal, state, local
and tribal governments, with an ultimate
effort to create jobs and expand the over-
all economy in Oklahoma.
Bill Christiansen, owner of Tulsa-based
Christiansen Aviation.
Photo by James Gibbard
FOR MORE INFO…
www.okhighered.org/econ-dev
www.okcareertech.org/business-and-industry/business-development

2017 Location Oklahoma 7

ABOUT OKLAHOMA

Why do business in
OKLAHOMA?
By Jennifer Sharpe
Oklahoma continues to offer companies a variety of reasons
to relocate or expand their business to the Sooner State. An
ease of doing business combined with a low cost of living and
quality workforce has helped make Oklahoma a top choice on
short lists of businesses everywhere.
“Businesses across the nation and around the world are
having to adapt their practices and learn how to do things more
efficiently and at a lower cost,” said Oklahoma Department
of Commerce Secretary Deby Snodgrass. “And as jobs require
more skilled labor, companies must also increase their focus
on employee retention. Oklahoma’s value proposition hits An electric substation in Edmond. Photo by Brett Fuchs
the mark. We are a cost-effective, business-friendly state that
minimizes unnecessary regulations, offers a desirable corporate
tax structure and has competitive incentive packages – all State Business Tax Climate:
working together to help companies lower their bottom line.
Combine that with our central location, quality of life – low cost
of living, access to recreational activities, availability of arts and
#1 Unemployment Insurance Tax Rank
Tax Foundation, 2017
culture and more – and Oklahoma checks all of the boxes.”

Location logistics Annual Rankings Report:

Location logistics, including transportation options and #2 Lowest Industrial Electricity
Business Facilities Magazine
accessibility, are among top reasons why companies choose to
do business in Oklahoma.
Roger Pulley, southwest Oklahoma area community and
Top Ten State Business Climates:
#5
economic development specialist for the Oklahoma Department
of Commerce, stressed the advantages of Interstate 35. New Firm Tax Index Rank
“Companies locating on or near I-35 South have an Site Selection
advantage of quicker and less expensive time to market
for their products,” Pulley said. “I would say that the most
attractive feature in locating a business in my region is the America’s Top States for
proximity to the major Dallas and Fort Worth markets to the
south, and Oklahoma City and other end users to the north.”   #6 Business 2016: Cost of Living
CNBC State
While the interstate system features the most prominent
roadways, many other state highways offer easy travel options
for hauling goods. Glenn Glass, southeast Oklahoma area 2017 State Business Tax Climate -
community and economic development specialist with the
Oklahoma Department of Commerce, promotes Highway
69/75.
#9 Corporate Tax Rank
Tax Foundation
“This is a four-lane highway that carries a tremendous
amount of truck traffic and connects with the Dallas/Fort
Top States for Doing Business
#9
Worth market, which makes this area a great location for
distribution,” Glass said. (Overall Cost of Doing Business)
Oklahoma’s railway system is another transportation Area Development
advantage.

8 2017 Location Oklahoma

 •Denver
Wichita•
•Albuquerque
•Oklahoma
City
“Rail
is another
important
feature of the southeast region,”
Glass said. “Union Pacific,
Burlington Northern, Arkansas-
Oklahoma, Kiamichi, Texas Oklahoma
& Eastern and Kansas City Southern all
have rail in the Southeast Region.”
Rusty Linker, director of new business development
and marketing for the Tulsa Regional Chamber, cites
transportation as a top reason why companies should do
business in Oklahoma, including its inland ports.
“Tulsa is an intermodal city, offering air, ground, rail and
the Port of Catoosa,” Linker said. “The Port of Catoosa is
one of the largest river ports in the country, and one of the
Cost-of-living comparison*
Community Composite
Tulsa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86.0
Oklahoma City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88.1
Dallas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96.1
Houston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98.2
Indianapolis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91.3
Kansas City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94.1
Little Rock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95.2
Shreveport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88.5
St. Louis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92.5
* Source: C2ER 2016 Annual Average, January 2017
•Kansas
City St.
Louis•
Tulsa•
•Little
Rock
•Dallas
Houston•
furthest inland. It links Oklahoma to
the Mississippi River, and ultimately the
New Orleans and Gulf Intercoastal Waterway
for access to both domestic and international
destinations. The Tulsa Port of Catoosa consists
of a 2,000-acre industrial park as well as the shipping
complex, with an annual economic impact of $300 million to
Oklahoma.
Natural Resources
Oklahoma City and the central region of the state also
have excellent access to road, rail and air options. James
Johnson, director of programs for the Regional Development
Team of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, notes that
“excellent transportation logistics assets make the central
region an attractive location to companies in a wide variety
of industries.”
Oklahoma’s natural resources, including wind, water and
land, are also attractive factors. Glass notes that southeast
Oklahoma boasts “large amounts of fresh water that is available
for a reasonable price.”
Stan Ralstin, northwest Oklahoma area community and
economic development specialist for the Oklahoma Department
of Commerce, says, “The northwest region of Oklahoma is an
excellent location for wind power generation facilities and wind
turbine maintenance facilities, as wind is an abundant resource
in the area.” Ralstin adds, “There has been a recent resurgence
in hydrocarbon energy businesses in the area, making it a great
location for companies in the hydrocarbon energy supply chain.
There are large tracts of available land in the region that make it
attractive for companies needing a large amount of space.”
2017 Location Oklahoma 9
ABOUT OKLAHOMA

Workforce Salt Lake City that employs about 550

Oklahoma’s available skilled and
educated workforce offers companies
attractive employee options. “The
central region of Oklahoma boasts a
wide abundance and diversity of labor,”
Johnson explains.  In Tulsa, TYPRos has emerged as
“Oklahoma City has a high
concentration of highly educated people
coming out of higher institutions, which
is unusual for a metro area,” says Roy
Williams, president and CEO of the
Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. “We
have 18 institutions of higher education
in the metro. About 125,000 people
are enrolled in higher education here,
which is almost 10 percent of the metro
population.”
Williams cites an example of this with
Progrexion, a credit repair company from
people locally.
“What drove them here is the
available, talented labor force,” said
Williams, who added that Dell, Boeing,
and GE all came to Oklahoma in part for
the labor force.
one of the largest organized young
professionals organization in the country.
“The mission of TYPros is to attract
and retain young, creative talent to the
Tulsa region while also developing the
next generation of leaders and enhancing
Tulsa’s sense of place,” said Maggie
Hoey, executive director of TYPros.
“One of our goals is to showcase Tulsa as
a dynamic community for young talent,
which helps provide a solid workforce
for area companies and businesses.”
A lower-than-average cost of
living, combined with wages that are
competitive relative to the cost, bring
added incentive to the workforce. Plus, it
is easy to do business in Oklahoma.
Partnerships
“One of the most attractive features
about northeast Oklahoma that would
encourage companies to do business in
Oklahoma is the regional partnerships
between state agencies, tribes, local
chambers and local governments that
work together to best fit a company’s
needs with regards to workforce, land,
infrastructure, location, incentives and
more,” said Charlotte Howe, northeast
Oklahoma regional development
specialist for the Oklahoma Department
of Commerce.

We’ve had lots of help becoming a

successful independent oil and gas
company in oklahoma: fRom ouR family
of heRoes-many of Whom have WoRked
foR us most of theiR adult lives.

any business With such dedicated,

capable, and loyal employees Will
alWays be a success.

We aRe pRoud to be an ameRican eneRgy pRoduceR

and suppoRt ameRican eneRgy independence.

www.wardpetroleum.com

10 2017 Location Oklahoma

 Copperfield Apartments (405) 943-8833 Mission Point Phase II (405) 703-7190
CopperfieldApartmentsOklahomaCity.com MissionPointApartmentsMoore.com

NORMAN EDMOND The Park on Westpointe I & II Crown Pointe Summerfield Place
Cimarron Trails Fountain Lake I & II 301 Pointe Parkway 12600 N MacArthur 11777 N. Meridian
3100 Rock Creek Trail 14025 N. Eastern (405) 494-7500 (405) 773-9191 (405) 755-5510
(405) 321-1457 (405) 471-5600 Hunter’s Ridge Tammaron Village
Icon at Norman NORTH OKC 9211 N. Council Rd. 11100 Roxboro
6475 NW 36th Ave. Villas at Stonebridge I & II Cimarron Pointe (405) 728-0097 (405) 721-9127
(405) 310-4767 157 Stonebridge Blvd. 8301 N. Council Rd. Park at Tuscany The Warrington
(405) 359-3081 (405) 722-3588 2737 NW 140th St.
MOORE 12700 N. MacArthur
(405) 749-4535 (405) 721-1221
Mission Point I & II Copperfield
YUKON Persimmon Square
2900 South Service Rd. 2400 NW 30th Woodscape
(405) 703-7190 Canyon Ranch 12113 Heritage Park Rd.
(405) 943-8833 4200 N. Meridian
11308 SW 5th Street (405) 751-9390
(405) 948-7200
(405) 765-1073 Council Place Prairie Springs I & II
10800 N. Council Rd. 9777 N. Council Rd.
(405) 722-7972 (405) 722-2727

Cottages at Tallgrass Point (918) 928-4300 Scissortail Crossing (918) 893-6300

CottagesAtTallgrassApartmentsOwasso.com ScissortailCrossingApartmentsBrokenArrow.com

TULSA Country Hollow Barcelona Tuscany Hills at Nickel Creek Scissortail Crossing
Creekwood 4605 E. 80th St. 5160 S. Yale Ave. 1151 W. 78th St. 2800 N. 23rd St.
8418 S. 77th East Ave (918) 492-4230 (918) 496-8838 (918) 794-7044 (918) 893-6300
(918) 250-0606 Waterford
Sugarberry Sunchase
The Greens of Bedford 10902 E. 61st St. 8101 E. 93rd St. 5181 s. Harvard Ave. JENKS
6508 S. 106th East Pl. (918) 749-7895 The Reserve at Elm
(918) 252-4561 (918) 250-7488
(918) 254-6515 Nickel Creek 701 W. 101st Pl. South
Polo Run Barrington 7805 S. Union Ave. (918) 296-7028
Riverpark at Kensington 7027 S. Joplin Ave. 9233 E. 65th St.
7803 S. Wheeling Ave. (918) 933-5858
(918) 492-2802 (918) 254-1681 OWASSO
(918) 497-2012
The Courtyards Cascata BROKEN ARROW Preston Lakes
Cedar Glade Park at Mission Hills I & II
6748 E. 91st st. 8001 S. Mingo Rd. 14700 E. 88th Pl. N.
9713 E. 75th 2700 N. 7th St
(918) 481-0443 (918) 505-3500 (918) 609-6787
(918) 250-3621 (918) 994-7700
Eagle Point Sheridan Pond Boulder Ridge Coffee Creek
Villas at Aspen Park
5808 E. 71st St. 8130 S. Lakewood Pl. 3121 S. 145th East Ave. 1400 E. 106th St. N
2001 W. Princeton Cir.
(918) 496-2730 (918) 481-1650 (918) 437-4883 (918) 994-6474 (918) 376-4477
Windsail One Eton Square Chardonnay Icon at Broken Arrow Cottages at Tallgrass Point
9808 E. 73rd St. 8111 E. 60th St. 7209 S. 92nd East Ave. 4801 S. Elm Pl. 8748 N. Mingo Rd.
(918) 250-8684 (918) 254-6541 (918)250-8668 (918) 994-6550 (918) 928-4300
ABOUT OKLAHOMA

Business
climate
Oklahoma is a major producer of
natural gas, oil and agriculture and has a
diversified economic base of aerospace,
traditional and renewable energy,
advanced manufacturing, distribution/
warehouse, corporate services and
biosciences.
KEY INDUSTRY:
The state’s pro-business environment
has one of the nation’s most progressive
Aerospace &
economic development and business
incentive programs.
Defense
§ More than 120,000 Oklahomans
Oklahoma’s cost of doing business
employed by companies in the
ranks among the lowest in the nation.
aerospace and defense industry.
Additionally, the state wants more busi-
ness and is willing to work for it. Okla- § The Oklahoma City Air Logistics
homa has incentive programs that provide Center at Tinker Air Force Base
payments, tax incentives and rebates for is the largest depot in the U.S.
companies choosing to locate here. Department of Defense.
From the Oklahoma Quality Jobs § The American Airlines
Program, which gives cash to companies Maintenance and Engineering
that create jobs for Oklahomans, to the Center in Tulsa is the largest
Small Employer Quality Jobs Program, commercial MRO facility in the
which provides incentive payments world.
to small businesses, companies are
rewarded for locating in Oklahoma. § The Federal Aviation
The state also has a history of Administration Mike Monroney
innovation and entrepreneurship. Aeronautical Center is the central
Aviation, biotechnology, logistics, support and training facility in
aerospace and energy provide Oklahoma the U.S. for the FAA and the U.S.
with quality jobs, while angel investors Department of Transportation. The
and business incubators continue to help center trains more than 20,000
fund and support new small businesses. students a year.
Pro-business is good business, and § Oklahoma is home to the nation’s
Oklahoma offers companies a chance to first UAS-focused degree program.
succeed.

Examples of industries that

make up this group:
§ Parts and Components
Manufacturing
§ Maintenance, Repair, and
Overhaul
§ Unmanned Aerial Systems
§ Military-Related Research
and Development

12 2017 Location Oklahoma

 SUCCESS MAY TAKE YOU
OFF THE BEATEN PATH.

Located on U.S. Highway 62, Midwest City’s Soldier Creek Industrial Park lies within
five minutes of Interstate 35, fifteen minutes of Tinker Air Force Base and is adjacent
to public transportation. However, your employees will most appreciate the adjacent
primitive trails that offer recreational opportunities in a natural environment. Soldier
Creek is an Oklahoma Department of Commerce certified light industrial park within
an Enterprise Zone and a U.S. SBA Hub Zone. Utilities are plentiful and premium
incentives are available for large employers. For more information, contact the City of
Midwest City Economic Development Office at (405) 739-1218.

Soldier Creek Industrial Park 7450 NE 23rd Street Midwest City, OK

ABOUT OKLAHOMA
KEY INDUSTRY:
Agriculture &
Biosciences
§ The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
is a world leader in the research of lupus and
Alzheimer’s disease.
§ Oklahoma is home to several specialized and
nationally renowned health care centers
including the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center,
Stephenson Cancer Center, Dean McGee Eye
Institute and others.
§ The University of Oklahoma Research Park is
a 27-acre, 700,000-square-foot complex that
supports biomedical technology.
The sector includes:
§ Food Manufacturing
§ Commodity Production and Distribution
§ Fertilizer Manufacturing
§ Research and Development
#2
Annual Rankings Report:
Wind Power Expansion
Business Facilities Magazine
14 2017 Location Oklahoma
KEY INDUSTRY:
Energy
§ On average nearly $51.7 billion of state production
is generated and oil and gas output continues to
increase as technology improves the success ratio of
extraction efforts.
§ Over the past five years, Oklahoma’s higher education
system has produced about 7,000 degrees annually in
the energy sector alone.
§ 3.7 megawatts of solar capacity were installed in
Oklahoma in 2015.
§ The country’s third-largest producer of wind power with
6,645 megawatts of wind capacity at the end of 2016.
Examples of industries that
make up this group:
§ Machinery Manufacturing
§ Natural Gas Products
§ Distribution
§ Engineering Services
 ABOUT OKLAHOMA

KEY INDUSTRY: KEY INDUSTRY:

Information & Transportation &
Financial Services Distribution

22%
Thanks to state- § Two international airports, 140 public-use
sponsored incentives airports in 128 cities and seven airports
like training, employee offering commercial services.
recruiting, property
§ Annually, more than 500 million pounds
tax and sales tax
Labor costs are 22% below the of all-cargo weight lands at Oklahoma’s
exemptions and more,
national average for information international airports.
Oklahoma has a strong
information and related occupations. § Oklahoma’s waterways can ship to and from
financial services industry. 20 states as well as global markets with access
Innovation and information technologies are other areas to the Gulf of Mexico.
where Oklahoma excels. Thanks to public technology such as
the Tulsa Supercomputer, the Fab Lab Tulsa, the Oklahoma § The Tulsa Port of Catoosa is one of the largest
Innovation Institute and i2E, Oklahoma innovation helps and most inland ice-free ports in the nation.
support continuing development, entrepreneurship, emerging § Equidistant from New York, Los Angeles,
technologies and fabrication. Mexico City and Canada, Oklahoma serves
all U.S., NAFTA and world markets
Examples of industries that
make up this group: This sector includes:
§ Air, Rail, Water, and Pipeline
§ Data Centers
§ Equipment Manufacturing
§ Banking and Investment
§ Warehousing and Storage
§ Cybersecurity
§ Wholesale Brokers
§ Computer Systems

73
Oklahoma is home to 73 data centers

2017 Location Oklahoma 15

ABOUT OKLAHOMA

WORKFORCE
Workforce
Oklahoma’s comprehensive workforce development system is
dedicated to boosting economic development and growing the state’s
DEVELOPMENT economy.
PROGRAMS State leaders from business, government, education and nonprofit
sectors work together in a concerted effort to not only provide better
• Oklahoma Works jobs for Oklahomans, but also offer better-qualified workers for the
http://oklahomaworks.gov/
state’s employers.
The Oklahoma Works program brings all of the state’s
• The Governor’s Council
workforce resources together, connecting employers,
for Workforce & Economic
employees and job-seekers to information and programs
Development
http://oklahomaworks.gov/ that help build Oklahoma’s workforce.
governors-council/

• Work Ready Communities EDUCATION AND TRAINING

http://oklahomaworks.gov/ Oklahoma is a national model for the program called
work-ready-communities/ Complete College America, the goal of which is to
increase the number of college degrees and CareerTech
• State Workforce Youth certificates awarded by nearly 70 percent to keep pace
Council with a job market that demands more skilled labor.
http://oklahomaworks.gov/ Beyond traditional education, Oklahoma’s Training
youth-council/ for Business Program, a CareerTech initiative, delivers
startup training for companies locating or expanding in
the state.
In addition, the state’s nationally recognized Work
Ready Communities boost the skills and training offered
to Oklahoma employees and job seekers through the
WorkKeys and Career Readiness Certificate program.

THE AVERAGE WAGE ADVANTAGE

The state’s average wage, commensurate with its affordable
WORKFORCE cost of living, is significantly lower than that of comparable
states. Statewide labor surveys also reveal a significant number
of underemployed workers willing to explore and capitalize on
new opportunities.
Find out why Oklahoma is known for its workforce
development and what it can mean to your business.
Labor Force: 1,836,643
Employed: 1,756,961
Unemployed: 79,682
Unemployment Rate: 4.34%
State of Oklahoma (March 2017)
Source: Oklahoma Employment
Security Commission

UNION MEMBERSHIP
Sector Obs Employment Members Covered % Mem % Cov

Total 2,206 1,480,682 79,482 96,963 5.4 6.5

Private 1,772 1,200,328 39,047 48,505 3.3 4.0
Public 434 280,354 40,435 48,458 14.4 17.3
Priv. Construction 124 85,734 4,065 5,818 4.7 6.8
Priv. Manufacturing 189 126,513 12,692 15,351 10.0 12.1

16 2017 Location Oklahoma

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2017 Location Oklahoma 17

ABOUT OKLAHOMA

Market access, location

and infrastructure

Rail
Oklahoma has 3,850 miles miles of
operated railroad track that ship 226 tons
of freight annually. Major rail providers
include Union Pacific, and Burlington
Northern Santa Fe.

Water Road Air

Oklahoma’s strategic location is able
to supply 20 states by waterway. With
three inland ports, Oklahoma has ideal
access to North America via the 445-mile,
multipurpose McClellan-Kerr Arkansas
River Navigation System, which
connects the Tulsa Port of Catoosa to the
Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico
and seaports worldwide. The Tulsa Port
of Catoosa is one of the largest, most
inland ice-free river ports in the nation.
The Port of Catoosa and the Port of
Muskogee are also Foreign Trade Zones.
Oklahoma industry is served by over
12,000 miles of highway that move 500
million tons per year. By 2035 the amount
is projected to grow to 769.5 tons. The
state is a hub for I-35, I-40, I-44, US-69,
and other major trade routes.
Truck transit time
500-mile ring ......................................24 hours
1,000-mile ring ...................................48 hours
1,500-mile ring....................................72 hours
Two international airports in
Oklahoma City and Tulsa, both
designated as Foreign Trade Zones, are
served by major airlines and provide
access to all domestic and international
destinations. Oklahoma is also home to
140 public-use airports, 43 of them jet
capable.
Flight transit time
Dallas..................................................55 minutes
NYC (NYC)..........................3 hours and 19 min.
Washington, DC.................2 hours and 51 min.
Los Angeles, CA (LAX)............................ 3 hours

18 2017 Location Oklahoma

 ABOUT OKLAHOMA

INFRASTRUCTURE
With some of the most competitive
and consistent energy costs in the
nation, Oklahoma’s major utility
companies can easily meet your
customized power needs.
Known globally as an oil and gas giant,
Oklahoma is rapidly diversifying that
power portfolio to become America’s
clean energy leader. Oklahoma’s
utilities are aggressively adding wind
generation to their portfolios, looking for
opportunities to use solar and biomass,
building transmission, installing smart-
grid technologies, and offering special
tariffs to spur clean energy generation
and related manufacturing.

ENERGY & UTILITIES

ELECTRICITY
The Oklahoma Corporation
Commission regulates three investor-
owned electric utilities that provide retail
electric service to much of the state –
Empire District Electric Co., Oklahoma
Gas and Electric Co. and AEP’s Public
Service Company of Oklahoma. Many
Oklahoma municipalities operate their
own utilities and more than two dozen
rural electric cooperatives operate in the
state as well. In addition, electricity is
generated from the Grand River Dam
Authority, an Oklahoma agency created
to control, develop, and maintain the
Grand River waterway.
NATURAL GAS
Oklahoma is one of the top natural
gas-producing states in the nation,
accounting for 7.6 percent of U.S. gross
production and 8.7 percent of marketed
production in 2015.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Cable, DSL and other high-speed
Internet services are available throughout
Oklahoma and are offered by major
regional operations for AT&T, Cox
Communications and Verizon as well
as numerous other telecommunications
companies.
Different telephone companies provide
a variety of telecommunications services to
consumers. Telecommunications services
include traditional wire line telephone
service, wireless telephone service, Voice
over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone
service, long-distance toll service, internet
services, and many other forms of
electronic communication.
RURAL CONNECTION
Thanks to a unique network of high-
speed broadband fiber in Oklahoma,
rural companies are able to access the
internet services vital to running a
successful business.
The Oklahoma Community Anchor
Network (OCAN) allows for access
to high-speed fiber that creates
opportunities to expand education,
health and public safety services and
create new partnerships among local,
state and tribal governments, thus
boosting job growth and development.
OCAN offers 1,005 miles of high-speed
broadband fiber. OCAN was funded
through a $74 million grant from the
National Telecommunications and
Information Administration under the
Broadband Technology Opportunities
Program, along with $19 million in-kind
state match.
As part of the Broadband Technology
Opportunities Program through the U.S.
Department of Commerce, OCAN is also
helping to boost economic development
in Oklahoma’s more rural areas.
OneNet operates the OCAN
network and allows for public/private
partnership opportunities. Private
telecommunications companies have
the opportunity to lease fiber to expand
their service areas.
For more information, go to https://
onenet.net/.

2017 Location Oklahoma 19

ABOUT OKLAHOMA
Incentives
Oklahoma continues to be recognized for its outstanding business location
and job growth incentives. Businesses can choose between a cash incentive
or a tax credit package, and in some cases, qualifying businesses can take
advantage of both programs.
Quality Jobs 10-year
Cash Incentive
Oklahoma’s successful Quality
Jobs incentive program promotes job
growth and helps improve a company’s
bottom line by injecting cash back into
its business as the company expands
and creates new jobs in Oklahoma.
The Quality Jobs program provides a
cash rebate to companies that create
well-paid jobs and promote economic
development.
A company may receive cash payments
of up to 5 percent of new payroll for up
to 10 years.
To qualify the company must:
• Meet the average county wage or
state threshold wage, whichever is lower
• Achieve
$2.5 million of new
annual payroll
within three years
20 2017 Location Oklahoma
• Offer basic health insurance
to employees within 180 days of
employment. (Employee must not pay
more than 50 percent of premium)
Qualifying companies can earn up to
a 6 percent rebate if at least 10 percent of
new workforce is veterans. Under certain
circumstances, participation in the Quality
Jobs program may be combined with the
Investment/New Jobs Tax Credit.
Small Employer Quality Jobs
Seven-year Cash Incentive
The Small Employer Quality Jobs
Program provides incentive payments
to a qualifying small employer. The
program is targeted to manufacturers.
A company may receive cash
payments of up to 5 percent of new
payroll for up to seven years. To qualify,
the company must:
• Have 90 employees or less over
the past four quarters at the time of
application
• Must create as few as five and as
many as 15 new jobs minimum, based on
the population of the community where
the company is located
• Must pay the newly created jobs
at 110 percent of the average county wage
• Have 75 percent out-of-state sales
• Offer basic health insurance within
180 days of employment. (Employee must
not pay more than 50 percent of premium)
Investment/New Jobs Tax
Credit Package
Investment/new jobs tax credits
provide growing manufacturers a
significant tax credit based on either an
investment in depreciable property OR
on the addition of full-time-equivalent
employees engaged in manufacturing,
processing or aircraft maintenance.
Elements include:
• Five-year state tax credit on
the greater of 1 percent per year of
investment in new depreciable property
or $500 per new employee
• Minimum investment of $50,000
• Credits may be combined with the
Quality Jobs program under certain
circumstances
Quality Jobs +
Investment Tax Credits
The Quality Jobs + Investment Tax
Credits incentives target manufacturing
industries that have a large capital
investment of at least $40 million in
addition to creating at least $2.5 million
in new payroll at higher than the state’s
average wage. The incentives also allow
a five-year tax credit of 2 percent per
year of investment in qualified new
depreciable property.
 For more information:
Contact the Oklahoma Department of Commerce
Phone: (800) 588-5959
Web: okcommerce.gov/location-or-expansion/incentives

21st Century Quality Jobs Program

The 21st Century Quality Jobs 10-Year Cash Incentive was
created in 2009 to attract growth industries and sectors to
Oklahoma through a policy of rewarding businesses with a
highly skilled, knowledge-based workforce. The first of its kind,
the incentive targets such knowledge-based service industries
as professional, scientific and technical services; music, film and
performing arts; and specialty hospitals. The incentive:
• Maximizes the eligible incentive payment by incorporating
expanded state benefits by allowing a net benefit rate of up to
10 percent of payroll for up to 10 years
• Requires at least 10 full-time jobs at an annual average
wage of the lesser of $97,341 or 300 percent of the county’s
average wage
• Requires out-of-state sales of at least 50 percent for certain
industries
Sales Tax Refunds on Construction Materials
Sales tax refunds are available on construction materials for
new manufacturing and aircraft maintenance repair facilities.
Also available on purchases of computers, data processing
equipment, telecommunication equipment for certain aircraft
facilities, and for purchases of computer services and data
processing equipment for qualified computer services or
research and development companies.

Additional Incentives
• Five-year Ad Valorem Tax Exemption
• Economic Development Pooled Finance Program
• Industrial Access Road Assistance
• Community Development Block Grant/Economic
Development Infrastructure Financing
• Foreign Trade Zones
• State and Local Financing Programs
• Customized Employee Training
ABOUT OKLAHOMA

MAJOR SOURCES OF
FOREIGN INVESTMENT
Foreign direct investment
IN OKLAHOMA: Oklahoma’s diversified economic base of aerospace, traditional and renewable
France energy, advanced manufacturing, distribution/warehouse, corporate services and
Mexico biosciences makes the state one of the nation’s most attractive centers for global
Japan business opportunities.
United Kingdom, The state’s central location and strategic access to integrated air, land and
Germany water transportation systems make it an easily accessible profit center with
Switzerland streamlined connections to more than 80 million people within a 500-mile radius.
Canada Equidistant between New York, Los Angeles, Mexico City and Canada, the state is
ideally positioned to serve all U.S., NAFTA and world markets.
Oklahoma is home to more than 140 foreign direct investment, or FDI,
TOP EXPORTING companies including BAE Systems, Centek, Lufthansa, Michelin, Siemens, Sodexo,
MARKETS ThyssenKrupp and Unicore.
Canada (27.9%)
Mexico (10.7%)
Germany (7.4%)
Japan (4.7%)
Trade
Singapore (4.7%)
China (4.4%) With more than two-thirds of the world’s purchasing power located outside of
the United States, international markets offer vast growth opportunities.
The Oklahoma Department of Commerce’s Global team offers a range of
TOP 5 personalized services to Oklahoma companies seeking to expand their business
OKLAHOMA EXPORTS by trading internationally. These include trade assistance, access to partners, and
STEP Fund financing for international marketing.
Machinery
(except electrical) – 19.8% INTERNATIONAL TRADE OFFICES
Transportation equipment Oklahoma offers international business support in a number of countries,
– 13.9% including virtual offices throughout Europe and international trade offices in
Computer and Israel, China and Mexico.
electronic products –
13.5% PARTNERS AND REFERRALS
Fabricated In addition to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce’s Global Recruitment
metal products - and Trade Team, additional trade support services are available through federal
12.8% and state partners and referral organizations including:
Chemicals - • U.S. Department of Commerce (www.export.gov)
• Oklahoma Alliance for Manufacturing Excellence (www.okalliance.com)
• Export-Import Bank of the United States (www.exim.gov)
49,700 • Overseas Private Investment Corp. (www.opic.gov)
In 2014, foreign-owned • U.S. Small Business Administration (www.sba.gov)
companies employed
49,700 Oklahomans
For more information:
$5 billion Contact the Oklahoma Department of Commerce
Global Recruitment and Trade Team
In 2016, Phone: (405) 815-5187
Oklahoma exports Web: okcommerce.gov/business/trade
totaled $5 billion

22 2017 Location Oklahoma

 ABOUT OKLAHOMA

Demographics
POPULATION

2016 3,923,561
estimate

2010 3,751,351

2000 3,450,654

1990 3,145,585 = 100,000

1980 3,025,290

1970 2,559,229

RACE AGE
POPULATION BY RACE  2015 estimate
27.2%
White alone (a) 74.8% 24.6%
Black or African American alone (a) 7.8% 21.1%
20.9%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone (a) 9.1%
Asian alone (a) 2.2%
Median Age: 36.2 years

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (a) 0.2%

Two or More Races 6%
6.2%
Hispanic or Latino (b) 10.1%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino 66.5%

0-19 20-34 35-54 55-74 75+

(a) Includes persons reporting only one race
Years Years Years Years Years
(b) Hispanics may be of any race, so also are included in applicable race categories

Oklahoma City............................601,672
Tulsa..............................................398,082
Source: U.S. Census Norman........................................117,353
Bureau, American
Community Survey, Broken Arrow...............................103,437
2011-2015
Lawton............................................97,589
Edmond..........................................86,739
Moore.............................................58,615
Midwest City..................................56,507
Enid.................................................50,685
Stillwater.........................................47,523

2017 Location Oklahoma 23

ABOUT OKLAHOMA

Quality of life
Oklahoma offers more than a skilled workforce and
bolstering business environment. The quality of life for team
members is attractive because the state has a low cost of living
and a plethora of recreation, tourism, education, family, and
volunteer opportunities.
Arts districts in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Shawnee, Norman
and Bartlesville have regular public events and family-friendly
attractions such as the Oklahoma City Zoo, Jasmine Moran
Children’s Museum, Science Museum Oklahoma, Oklahoma
City National Memorial & Museum and the Oklahoma State
Aquarium make Oklahoma a desirable place to live, play and
raise a family.
Oklahoma has professional sports, live theater, music
festivals, internationally recognized art museums, camping,
hiking, sailing, kayaking, a friendly community spirit and a
history of volunteerism. Strong public and private schools,
good restaurants, diverse houses of worship and short
commutes add to the state’s appeal.
Newcomers are often surprised by the wealth of amenities, and LEFT: A runner jogs across a pedestrian bridge across the Bricktown canal
discover that Oklahoma is an excellent place to put down roots. in Oklahoma City. Photo by Brett Fuchs. RIGHT: DepositPhotos.com

Weather Climate
JAN APR JUL OCT
37.3° F 60.1° F 81.9° F 61.9° F
The mean annual Avg. Temp Avg. Temp Avg. Temp Avg. Temp
temperature over the state
ranges from 62 degrees 93.6° F 74.1° F
Fahrenheit along the Red
49.4° F 72.9° F Avg. High Temp
Avg. High Temp Avg. High Temp Avg. High Temp
River to about 58 degrees F
along the northern border. 25.6° F 47.2° F 69.2° F 48.8° F
It then decreases westward Avg. Low Temp Avg. Low Temp Avg. Low Temp Avg. Low Temp

to 56 deg F in Cimarron
County in the Oklahoma 1.5” 3.4” 3” 3.3”
Avg. Avg.
Panhandle. Avg.
Precipitation
Avg.
Precipitation Precipitation Precipitation

Sources: Oklahoma Climatological Survey and weatherbase.com

24 2017 Location Oklahoma

 THE OKLAHOMA TEAM
Expanding or relocating your business to a new market
demands speed and flexibility. The Oklahoma Team is ready to
provide you with the expert and confidential guidance you need
to get your company up and running in Oklahoma. Here’s what
you can expect from our team of business development experts:
ONE-STOP PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE
Your partnership with Oklahoma begins with the
assignment of a project manager. The manager will be
your primary point of contact and provide single-source
coordination with the governor, key state agencies and local
communities. They will help you determine the needs of your
project from facility to workforce, investment to timeline –
reducing red tape and optimizing your benefits.
SITE VISITS
Oklahoma is a diverse state. From major metropolitan areas
to smaller cities surrounded by vast expanses of land, your
project manager will help you narrow in on the right place for
your business. They will schedule confidential site/community
visits based on your exact requirements.
WORKFORCE ANALYSIS
Your business cannot succeed without the right workforce.
Your project manager will provide you with comprehensive
labor market analysis, demographics, comparative wage data
and initial employee identification and screening to help you
understand Oklahoma’s workforce. They can also connect
you with educational institutions and other resources that will
help you ensure that you always have access to the trained
workforce your business needs.
STATE & LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS
Each of Oklahoma’s communities is unique and has
various services to offer your business. Our program can
directly connect you with regional and community economic
development organizations and services, including utilities,
environmental, tax and finance, workforce and training.
PERMIT ASSISTANCE
Your project manager will work closely with state and
local agencies to ensure rapid permitting for your project.
FINANCIAL RESOURCES
Your project manager can be a resource for finding
available state and local finance sources.
TRAINING ASSISTANCE
Oklahoma has an extensive and nationally acclaimed
CareerTech network. The Oklahoma Team can help qualifying
companies coordinate startup training at no cost as well as
long-term training through our state’s CareerTech network.
INCENTIVE & TAX ABATEMENTS
You’ve heard about Oklahoma’s renowned (and often
imitated) incentive programs. Your project manager will
identify all state and local incentives applicable to your project.
GROUNDBREAKINGS & RIBBON-CUTTINGS
Once everything is in place and you’re ready to break
ground or open your doors for business, the Oklahoma team
can help you when it comes to planning your groundbreaking
or ribbon-cutting.
THE NEXT PHASE
You’ve made the decision to expand or relocate your
business to Oklahoma, but that does not mean our assistance
stops. Your relationship with your project manager will
continue as long as you request. The Oklahoma Team is
committed to our partnership with your business and can
offer assistance in a variety of areas to ensure that you reap the
benefits of our state of success.
For more information:
Contact the Oklahoma Department of
Commerce
Phone: (800) 588-5959
Web: okcommerce.gov
2017 Location Oklahoma 25
REGION: OKC METRO
Taking credit
Progrexion taps OKC workforce
for call center location
By Heide Brandes
The Utah-based credit repair
company Progrexion started 26 years
ago in a duplex.
Today, the company has almost 4,000
employees nationwide and provides
technology, marketing, administration
and teleservices for its subsidiary,
CreditRepair.com, and its client, the
credit repair company Lexington Law.
26 2017 Location Oklahoma
“You hear so much about how bad
credit can ruin lives, and the founders
wanted to find a way to help people
improve their credit scores,” said Josh
Saupan, Oklahoma City site director, who
joined the company in 2007.
In 2016, the company opened an
Oklahoma City location, its eighth new
location in seven years. Today, Progrexion
employs a little more than 200 people, and
90 percent of those are local hires.
Progrexion Operations Manager Bobby Dunn,
Oklahoma City Site Director Josh Saupan and
Operations Manager Jesse Cope.
Photo by Brent Fuchs
“Our current vice president of
marketing worked in Oklahoma City
years ago and loved the culture and
the people and felt the talent here was
untapped,” Saupan said. “Progrexion
had expanded into Phoenix and Idaho,
and we knew we needed to have another
location. Based on what we heard from
him, we looked to Oklahoma City.”
Saupan said Oklahoma City offered a
talent pool that other locations did not.
 REGION: OKC METRO

“In Salt Lake City and Phoenix,
there’s a lot of competition for that
talent,” Saupan said. “It’s really exciting
in Oklahoma City. People here are
underutilized, so we were able to bring
people in and offer training to have them
move through our company.
“With how courteous (Oklahomans)
are and genuine and friendly, it’s easier
to train them and turn them into good
employees,” he said.
That workforce is among the many
reasons Oklahoma City was able to
attract a company like Progrexion, said
Roy Williams, president and CEO of the
Greater Oklahoma City Chamber.
“We are in the enviable position
of being one of the top metros for
millennials,” Williams said. “We also
have 18 institutions of higher education
in the metro area, which means 125,000
citizens are enrolled in postsecondary
education. That’s 10 percent of our
population, so we have this constant flow
of certifications and degrees.”
Companies tend to go where the labor
force is, Williams added. However, a lot
of strategies were put in place to attract
the credit reputation company.
“The cost of living was also a major
factor,” he said. “Oklahoma City is in a
good position that we could offer low
cost of living, available talent and good
incentives.”
The city’s and the state’s willingness to
work with Progrexion through incentives
and other aid made Oklahoma City a
shoe-in for the expansion.
“We worked with the Oklahoma
Department of Commerce and the
Oklahoma City Economic Development
Trust to develop an incentive package
that was competitive,” said Williams.
“Through the incentives, we were able
to help Progrexion with the build-out of
their building. Having an existing facility
helped as well.”
The available talent, the culture and
livability of the city and the low cost of
doing business in Oklahoma attracted
Progrexion, but the fact Oklahoma City
had a facility in the old Lucent Technology
building available sealed the deal.
“To see what that building is now
compared to the old decrepit building
it was is amazing,” Saupan said. “It’s a
world-class call center, and the people
here are so genuine. They have so much
hospitality, and it’s a complete joy for me
to work here.”
Progrexion ASG Inc. also qualified for
up to $6.6 million in Quality Jobs money
over 10 years for creating up to 534 new
jobs in Oklahoma City.
“We also received certain tax breaks
to build here and provide a certain level
of employment,” Saupan said. “We also
received some incentives through the city
to help us build out that facility.”
For the Progrexion leadership,
Oklahoma City has proven to be a
good fit. The employees, most of whom
were local hires, also blend with the
Progrexion culture of giving back.
“Progrexion is about changing people’s
lives,” Saupan said. “Knowing that you
are helping people and fighting for them
to have incorrect information removed
from their credit report makes working
here a pleasure.”

MARKET ACCESS/LOCATION:
Being centrally located in the United States, the Greater
Oklahoma City metropolitan area has equal access to markets in
Canada and Mexico and is within 1,500 miles to all major markets
in the U.S.
Will Rogers World Airport is the Greater Oklahoma City metro
area’s major commercial airport, with seven airlines flying nonstop
to 22 major airports. The airport is located in south Oklahoma City,
just a short distance from downtown Oklahoma City and has easy
access to the three major interstates that run through the metro
area. The City of Oklahoma City also operates general aviation
airports Wiley Post Airport and Clarence E. Page Airport.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2011-2015

LARGEST CITIES Norman������������������������������� 117,353 Moore������������������������������������ 58,615

Oklahoma City������������������� 610,672 Edmond��������������������������������� 86,739 Midwest City������������������������� 56,507
2017 Location Oklahoma 27
REGION: OKC METRO

TOP INDUSTRY
CLUSTERS
QUALITY OF LIFE
DEMOGRAPHICS
Population: 1,373,211
Median Household Income: $51,461
COMMUTING PATTERNS:
Mean Household Income: $68,017
Average Commute Time

#1
Aviation & Aerospace Oklahoma City
Bioscience Quality of Life
Energy Business Facilities Magazine
Health Care
Oklahoma City

22.3
Manufacturing

#1
Best Cities to
Start a Business -
LARGEST Overall Rank
EMPLOYERS WalletHub, 2017 min

#3
Norman
Best Cost of Living
Business Facilities Magazine, 2015

EDUCATION
The region is home to more than 20 higher
State of Oklahoma
education institutions and technology centers
Tinker Air Force Base
as well as more than a dozen other additional 23%
OU – Norman Campus
accredited schools where individuals can obtain
FAA Mike Monroney HS diploma
Aeronautical Center degrees or certificates to further their career.
Integris Health Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2011-2015
Hobby Lobby Stores
OU Health Sciences Center
City of Oklahoma City 4.4% 7.4% 16.9% 6.8%
Mercy Health Center
GED or Some college, Some college, Associate degree
alt. credential less than 1 year 1+ years,
no degree

WORKFORCE
18.4% 6.9% 1.8% 1.2%
Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree Prof. school degree Doctorate degree

Labor Force: 658,828

Employed: 634,091
Unemployed: 24,737
Unemployment Rate: 3.8%
Source: Oklahoma Employment Securities
Commission, preliminary March 2017
FOREIGN TRADE ZONE 7100 Terminal Drive,
Unit 937,
FTZ No. 106 Oklahoma City Oklahoma City, OK 73159
Grantee: Port Authority of the Contact: Matthew Weaver
Greater Oklahoma City Area 405-623-5335
Operator: Department of Airports of the www.foreigntradezone106.org
City of Oklahoma City, Port: Oklahoma City

28 2017 Location Oklahoma

 REGION: OKC METRO

AREA ECONOMIC Edmond Economic

Development Authority
Moore, City of
www.cityofmoore.com
DEVELOPMENT www.eeda.com
Janet Yowell, Executive Director
Deidre Ebrey,
Economic Development Director
CONTACTS jy@eeda.com
405-216-2028
debrey@cityofmoore.com
405-793-5224
For more information on specific areas in Greater OKC Partnership Mustang Chamber of Commerce
this region, contact the regional development www.greateroklahomacity.com www.mustangchamber.com
specialist at the Oklahoma Department Kurt Foreman, Renee Peerman, Executive Director
of Commerce or one of the economic Executive Vice President, director@mustangchamber.com
development contacts listed below: Economic Development, 405-376-2758
Greater OKC Chamber
Oklahoma Department of Commerce kforeman@okcchamber.com; Newcastle Chamber of Commerce
James Johnson, Director, econdev@okcchamber.com www.newcastleok.org
Regional Development Team, 405-297-8900 405-387-3232
OKC Metro Regional Specialist
405-630-7455 Greater Oklahoma City Chamber Norman Economic
james.johnson@okcommerce.gov www.okcchamber.com Development Coalition
Roy Williams, President and CEO www.selectnorman.com
Association of Central rwilliams@okcchamber.com Jason Smith, Executive Director
Oklahoma Governments 405-297-8939 nedc@selectnorman.com
John Johnson, Executive Director 405-573-1900
jgjohnson@acogok.org Heart of Oklahoma Chamber
405-234-2264 of Commerce, The Oklahoma Small Business
www.theheartofok.com Development Center
Chickasha Economic Mandy Davis, Executive Director www.oksbdc.org
Development Council mandydavis@theheartofok.com 580-745-2877
www.chickashaedc.com (405-527-3093 info@oksbdc.org
Christy Elkins, President and CEO
Christy@chickashaedc.com Logan County Economic Development Corp. Purcell, City of
405-574-3478 www.logancountyedc.com www.purcell.ok.gov
Kay Wade, Executive Director Dale Bunn, City Manager
Eastern Oklahoma County kaywade@logancountyedc.com dale.bunn@purcell.ok.gov
Partnership (EOCP) 405-282-0060 405-527-6561
www.eocpartnership.com
Tim Hight, Executive Director Midwest City Yukon Economic Development
thight@eoctech.org Chamber of Commerce Authority
405-390-4769 www.midwestcityok.com www.cityofyukonok.gov
Robert Coleman, Director of Economic Mitchell Hort, Development Services Director
Development mhort@cityofyukonok.gov
rcoleman@midwestcityok.org 405-350-4700
405-739-1218

POINT OF INTEREST:
The Wheeler District is a new mixed-use
development underway that overlooks the Oklahoma
City downtown skyline. The district features the
former Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel, which
Photo by Brent Fuchs

stands 100 feet above the south bank of the

Oklahoma River.

2017 Location Oklahoma 29

REGION: TULSA METRO
Pump up the volume
Summit ESP takes advantage of Quality Jobs incentives
By Heide Brandes
Summit ESP of Tulsa had a driving
goal to become the No. 1 company in
the electrical submersible and surface
pumping system industry, and the
leaders in the company knew Tulsa
was the perfect city in which to meet
that goal.
Summit engineers, manufactures and
services a line of electrical submersible
and surface pumping systems to enhance
daily well production and total reservoir
recovery, holding 44 patents in the
30 2017 Location Oklahoma
submersible and surface pumping systems for the oil
industry and employing 600 people
company-wide. Formed in 2011, the
startup now employs 214 people in Tulsa
and a total of 240 in Oklahoma.
“Electrical submersible pumps are the
largest sector of the artificial lift industry
and also the most complex and advanced
form of pumps,” said Luke Janger, vice
president.
Janger said Tulsa was a natural fit for
the company. The electrical submersible
pump, which was invented in
northeastern Oklahoma, is widely used
by companies in the Mid-Continent area.
Summit ESP manufactures and services electrical
and natural gas industry.
Courtesy photo
In addition, Janger said, Tulsa also
offered an affordable atmosphere in
which to do business in and live.
“It’s definitely a city on the move,”
Janger said. “We are happy here in
Oklahoma, and we’ve never considered
moving or relocating. We plan to expand
internationally.”
Summit ESP’s loyalty to Tulsa and its
workforce has paid off. In January, the
Oklahoma Department of Commerce
announced $3.1 million in economic
incentives for the Tulsa-based oil and
natural gas equipment manufacturer,
 REGION: TULSA METRO

which pledged to hire 148 new
employees under the Oklahoma Quality
Jobs Program.
The program offers quarterly cash
payments of up to 5 percent of new
taxable payroll directly to a qualifying
company for up to 10 years. Under
the program, companies that receive
incentive payments can also qualify for
a five-year ad valorem tax exemption for
manufacturing, a free industry training
program, foreign trade zone and free port
benefits and other technical/financial
assistance programs.
The company also qualified for the
Oklahoma manufacturing sales tax
exemption program.
“We have received two Quality
Jobs incentives over the course of our
company’s history – one in 2011 and
the latest one – because we have done
significant hiring,” Janger said. “While
many companies have had to subtract
employees during the downturn in the
economy, we didn’t. We are creeping up
on 600 employees company-wide.”
Many of those employees come
from Oklahoma’s higher education
institutions. In fact, Janger said, Summit
ESP partners with the University of Tulsa
petroleum engineering department to
find quality talent.
“We take a significant amount of their
interns and we hire their graduates,”
Janger said. “We have fantastic luck with
the graduates we hire. We are happy to
contribute to Tulsa’s high-tech industry
as well. We also employ 12 very qualified
software developers.”
Brien Thorstenberg, senior vice
president of economic development
for the Tulsa Regional Chamber,
said the city’s STEM (science,
technology, engineering, and math)
education drives the advancement
of Tulsa’s key industries, such as
manufacturing and energy.
“Companies like Summit ESP rely
on a highly skilled workforce to meet
industry needs. Programs like the Tulsa
Regional STEM Alliance create pathways
for students to access high-impact careers
and ensure the strength of the region’s
future workforce,” Thorstenberg said.
“Summit ESP employs (local) workers
and supports the production of $40.2
million in goods and services in the
Tulsa region.”
Thorstenberg added that the company
also contributes the culture of the city
through its community service. Summit
ESP and its employees are members of
the chamber’s Partners in Education
(PIE) program and provides support
and resources to Clinton Middle School
in Tulsa, Thorstenberg said. Summit
ESP personnel also serve the regional
community by volunteering time
and services at the John 3:16 mission,
Rogers County Youth Services and the
Oklahoma Blood Institute.
That dedication to giving back to the
community makes Summit a valued
partner in the Tulsa area, allowing
employees and leaders in the company
to make an impact in more areas than
just business.
“Through its everyday actions, Summit
ESP conveys Tulsa’s philanthropic spirit,”
said Thorstenberg.
“Companies such as Summit ESP
rely on a vibrant community to
support current and future labor needs.
Talented workers seek out growing,
active communities to call home,” he
said. “The Tulsa region offers an array
of diverse experiences that create a
lasting impression. The community is
internationally known for its arts, culture
and music scene.”

MARKET ACCESS/LOCATION:
The Tulsa metropolitan area is an intermodal transportation hub
with rail, air, truck and water access available. More than 2.2 mil-
lion tons of cargo was shipped through the Tulsa Port of Catoosa
in 2014. Tulsa International Airport has nonstop service to 17 cities
with an average of more than 55 daily departures. The airport is lo-
cated 10 minutes from most points in the city including downtown
and Port of Catoosa. Richard L. Jones Jr. Airport, located in south-
west Tulsa, serves as the reliever airport for Tulsa International.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2011-2015

LARGEST CITIES Broken Arrow....................... 103,437 Bixby....................................... 23,171

Tulsa...................................... 398,082 Owasso................................... 32,650 Sapulpa.................................. 20,399
2017 Location Oklahoma 31
REGION: TULSA METRO

QUALITY OF LIFE
TOP INDUSTRY
CLUSTERS DEMOGRAPHICS
Population: 987,201
Median Household Income: $50,023
COMMUTING PATTERNS:
Mean Household Income: $68,017
Average Commute Time

Health Care
Aerospace and Aviation
Energy
#4
Tulsa
Tier II cities for new
and expanded
21.3
Manufacturing
Transportation
facilities
Site Selection Group, 2015
min
Distribution and Logistics

LARGEST
EMPLOYERS
EDUCATION
The Tulsa metro area is home to more than a dozen
American Airlines higher education institutions and technology centers
Oneok as well as other additional accredited schools where 25.6%
QuikTrip individuals can obtain degrees or certificates to
HS diploma
Spirit AeroSystems further their career.
Williams Companies Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2011-2015
Saint Francis Hospital
St. John Medical Center
Hillcrest Medical Center 4.3% 7.5% 16.4% 8.5%

GED or Some college, Some college, Associate degree

alt. credential less than 1 year 1+ years,
no degree

WORKFORCE
18.1% 5.7% 1.6% 0.8%
Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree Prof. school degree Doctorate degree

Labor Force: 475,095

Employed: 454,286
Unemployed: 20,809
Unemployment Rate: 4.4%
Source: Oklahoma Employment Securities FOREIGN TRADE ZONE 5350 Cimarron Rd.
Commission, March 2017 Catoosa, OK 74015
FTZ No. 53 Rogers County
Contact: David L. Yarbrough
Grantee: City of Tulsa-Rogers 918-266-2291 x19
County Port Authority
Port: Tulsa

32 2017 Location Oklahoma

 WE SAVE OKLAHOMA
$68 million

66%
We’re located on the McClellan-Kerr OF COM
MODI
ARE AG TIES SHIPPED
Arkansas River Navigation System
RICULT
URAL

We move millions of tons of bulk freight by barge each year‚ at a fraction of the cost and environmental impact
of rail or truck.
A recent study showed that moving freight by barge resulted in cost savings of $68 million for Oklahoma
farmers, manufacturers and consumers, compared to the cost of alternative overland modes.
To fill one barge of bulk commodities at a 9 foot draft, it takes 15 jumbo railcars or 60 large semis. One barge
carries up to 1,500 tons, while a railcar holds 100 tons, and a large semi-truck transports 26 tons. One towboat
pushing 12 barges can ship 18,000 tons with one engine, the equivalent of 720 semis.

Port of Catoosa Port of Muskogee Oklahoma Department of Oakley’s Port 33 Port of Keota Livestock
(918) 266-2291 (918) 682-7886 Transportation Waterways Division (918) 266-1490 Nutrition Center
www.tulsaport.com www.muskogeeport.com (918) 838-9933 www.oakleyport33.com (918) 208-0029
www.ok.gov/odot/Programsandprojects/waterways www.lnc-online.com
REGION: TULSA METRO

AREA ECONOMIC Eastern Oklahoma

Development District
DEVELOPMENT www.eoddok.org
Ernie Moore,
CONTACTS Economic Development Director
emoore@eoddok.org
For more information on specific areas in 918-682-7891
this region, contact the regional development
specialist at the Oklahoma Department
Grand Gateway Economic
of Commerce or one of the economic
development contacts listed below: Development Association
grandgateway.org
Oklahoma Department of Commerce Edward Crone, Executive Director
Charlotte Howe, executivedir@grandgateway.org
Regional Development Specialist 800-482-4594
Northeast Oklahoma
918-619-2482 Indian Nations Council
charlotte.howe@okcommerce.gov of Governments
www.incog.org
Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce Rich Brierre, Executive Director
& Economic Development Corporation rbrierre@incog.org
www.brokenarrowchamber.com 919-584-7526
Kinnee Tilly,
Senior Vice President, Northeast Oklahoma
Economic Development Regional Alliance (NORA)
Kinnee.tilly@baedc.com www.neokregion.org
918-251-1518 Darla Heller, Executive Director
dheller@neokregion.org
Cherokee Nation Businesses LLC 918-772-8334
www.cherokeenationbusinesses.com
Andy McMillan, Director, Oklahoma Small Business
Special Projects & Development Center
Economic Development www.oksbdc.org
andy.mcmillan@cn-bus.com 580-745-2877
918-384-7774
Okmulgee Area Development Corp.
www.okmulgeedevelopment.com
Bob Klabenes,
Economic Development Director
918-758-1131
City of Owasso
www.cityowasso.com
Chelsea Levo,
Director of Economic Development
clevo@cityofowasso.com
918-376-1518
Sand Springs, City of
www.sandspringsok.org
Sapulpa, City of
www.cityofsapulpa.net
Ted Fisher, Economic
Development Director
918-224-3040
tfisher@cityofsapulpa.net
Tulsa Regional Chamber
GrowMetroTulsa.com
Brien Thorstenberg,
Senior Vice President, Economic
Development
brienthorstenberg@tulsachamber.com
918-560-0240
Rusty Linker,
Director of New Business Development
& Marketing, Economic Development
rustylinker@tulsachamber.com
918-560-0233
Wagoner County
Economic Development Authority
Community Development
918-486-4589

POINT OF INTEREST:
The Brady Arts District, one of the oldest
sections in downtown Tulsa, is home to a variety of
retail and service shops, restaurants, bars, clubs,
galleries, museums, parks, private businesses,
residences and historic music venues.
Courtesy photo

34 2017 Location Oklahoma

 We’re Proud to Help

Comprised of over 160 Oklahoma corporations and business organizations,

the Oklahoma Business Roundtable serves as the state’s major economic
development support organization.
We are a collaborative non-profit organization whose sole
purpose is advancing Oklahoma’s economic development – through
business recruitment, business expansion, start-up and quality
improvement activities.
Now in its 26th year of service, the Roundtable has supported hundreds Oklahoma Business Roundtable
of state and national business promotion activities resulting in millions of 655 Research Parkway, Suite 420
dollars of corporate investment throughout Oklahoma. Our members are Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104
committed to the growth and diversification of our state’s economy.
Oklahoma is a great state for business. We provide a comprehensive
package of site location advantages for your company. Our corporate,
government and economic development leadership will work together to
ensure your long-term success.

We welcome your investment! www.okbusinessroundtable.com • 405.235.3787

As one of the most diverse Oklahoma-based aerospace defense contractors, thousands

As one of the
of service menmost
and diverse
womenOklahoma-based
around the worldaerospace defense
count on DRG contractors,
to provide thousands
critical training
of service men and women around the world count on DRG to provide critical training
and logistics services for many of today’s modern military programs and aircrafts.
and logistics services for many of today’s modern military programs and aircrafts.

2017 Location Oklahoma 35

REGION: NORTHEAST
Custom Mechanical Equipment workers build heating and air conditioning equipment at the Ponca City-based manufacturer’s facility.
Becoming centralized
Custom Mechanical Equipment
relocates to Ponca City from Wisconsin
By Jennifer Sharpe
In 1988, Dick Peitz launched Custom
Mechanical Equipment to manufacture
custom, high-efficiency heating and air
conditioning equipment.
The company individually designs
and builds rooftop penthouse structures
that house multiple independently
controlled systems for locations requiring
multizone and variable zone operations,
36 2017 Location Oklahoma
such as school districts and other large
commercial spaces.
However, due to the size of the
products, shipping costs were hurting
the Wisconsin company’s ability to stay
competitive.
“The owners at CME were looking
for a more centralized location in the
U.S. since the majority of the work we
were doing was spread from the central
Midwest region to the West Coast,” said
Courtesy photos
Erik Peitz, vice president of CME and
grandson of the company founder.
Reflecting on how CME discovered
Ponca City, Erik Peitz said he and
his father, CME owner Bill Peitz,
were working on a project at Pioneer
Technology Center in 2001. While on
that job, Bill Peitz was approached by
a representative from the Ponca City
Development Authority.
 REGION: NORTHEAST

The PCDA “is not your typical
economic development organization,”
said Laurence Beliel, director of
business retention and expansion for
the PCDA. “Our goal is to find ways to
help companies reduce costs, manage
workforce, and open markets.”
It took about two years from that initial
contact before the company’s move to
Ponca City was finalized.
“We looked at a number of different
locations throughout the Midwest,” Eric
Peitz said. “What it really came down to
were the incentives, and the fact that the
PCDA had a spec building ready to be
finished out.”
The PCDA finished the building to suit
CME’s needs, and leased the space to
the manufacturer in an equity-building
arrangement until CME was able to take
full ownership of the space.  more than tripled CME’s manufacturing
CME also took advantage of
Oklahoma’s Quality Jobs Program, an
incentive that targets manufacturers and
certain service industries.
“The most prominent state incentive
was the Quality Jobs incentive,” Peitz
said. “In short, we got tax breaks for
creating new jobs in Oklahoma.”
CME’s relocation created roughly 20 to
25 skilled worker positions in Ponca City.
As with any large, long-distance move,
CME met challenges relocating the entire
company from Wisconsin to Oklahoma.
“For one, it’s a logistical nightmare
to move a manufacturing facility 850
miles,” Peitz recalled, citing issues of the
building not being completed on time
and going over budget. “These were all
challenges we were able to overcome.”
In addition, CME employees had to
adjust to small-town living in Oklahoma.
“It was also a challenge adapting to
life in a small community. We moved
from a suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
So to say there was a bit of culture shock
is an understatement,” Peitz said. “Now
that we have been here for almost 14
years, Ponca City and Oklahoma have
become home.”
The 2003 move to the Ponca City facility
space and doubled its office space.
Much of the company’s infrastructure
was updated with the move to allow for
smoother customer service.
Being in Oklahoma has also enabled
CME to expand into different industries.
“If we had never moved, I can’t say we
would have ever gotten involved in the oil
and gas industry, or into the ever-evolving
green energy business,” said Peitz, noting
that issues in Wisconsin of high taxes and
union concerns contributed to an overall
difficulty to do business there. “The ability
to save money here has provided room for
growth.”
CME continues to evolve with the
HVAC industry and the market. “We are
always looking for new opportunities
with possible expansion,” Peitz said.
The largest company expansion since
the relocation has been the addition of
Custom Powder Coating and Dustless
Blasting, which opened in January 2016.
Located with CME in one shared facility,
the expansion has allowed new services
to be offered, including powder coating,
dustless sandblasting, and fabrication.
PCDA incentives helped drive the
expansion of the new business.
“Last year we did about $100,000 in
business, and this year we are on track to
triple that,” Peitz said.
In addition to financial success and the
creation of five new jobs, another benefit
of Custom Powder Coating and Dustless
Blasting has been the ability to reach a
different customer base, including the
general public.
“PDCA staff have done everything in
their power to help us out and make us
successful,” he said.

MARKET ACCESS/LOCATION:
The Port of Muskogee is strategically located near the
confluence of the Arkansas, Verdigris and Grand rivers. In 2014,
459 barges, carrying more than 708,000 tons of cargo, moved
through the Port of Muskogee. Northeastern Oklahoma also has
several regional and municipal airports in the region serving
business and industry.

LARGEST CITIES
Stillwater .........................................................47,523
Muskogee.......................................................38,776
Bartlesville.......................................................36,360
Ponca City......................................................24,846
Tahlequah.......................................................16,354
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2011-2015

2017 Location Oklahoma 37

REGION: NORTHEAST

TOP INDUSTRY QUALITY OF LIFE

CLUSTERS
DEMOGRAPHICS
Population: 522,534 *Range of counties
Median Household Income: $33,404-$50,023* within this region
Mean Household Income: $44,077-$68,124*

COMMUTING PATTERNS:
Average Commute Time
Agriculture & Bioscience
Energy
Aerospace
Manufacturing
Health Care
17.1 Commuter patterns for this region range from

to 27.2
Transportation & Logistics 17.1 minutes in Kay County to 27.2 minutes in
Okfuskee County.
Government
Education
Information
& Financial Services
min
LARGEST
EMPLOYERS

EDUCATION
The region is home to almost 20 higher education 28.9%
institutions and technology centers.
HS diploma

Cherokee Nation Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2011-2015

ConocoPhillips
Phillips 66
5.9% 7.1% 15.3% 7.2%
The Charles Machine
Works Inc.
GED or Some college, Some college, Associate degree
Jack C. Montgomery alt. credential less than 1 year 1+ years,
VA Medical Center no degree
Georgia - PacificHillcrest
Medical Center

WORKFORCE 13.3% 4.9% 0.9% 1.2%

Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree Prof. school degree Doctorate degree

Labor Force: 215,665

Employed: 205,637
Unemployed: 10,028 FOREIGN TRADE ZONE 4901 Harold Scoggins Dr.,
Unemployment Rate: 4.6% Muskogee, OK 74401
FTZ No. 164 Muskogee
Source: Oklahoma Employment Securities Contact: Scott Robinson
Commission, March 2017 Grantee: Muskogee City-County
918-682-7886
Port Authority
Port: Tulsa

38 2017 Location Oklahoma

 REGION: NORTHEAST

AREA ECONOMIC Cherokee Nation Businesses LLC

Andy McMillan, Director,
MidAmerica Industrial Park
www.maip.com
DEVELOPMENT Special Projects & Economic info@maip.com
Development 918-825-3500
CONTACTS andy.mcmillan@cn-bus.com
918-384-7774 Muskogee City-County Port Authority
For more information on specific areas in www.muskogeeport.com
this region, contact the regional development Eastern Oklahoma Marie Synar, Director,
specialist at the Oklahoma Department
Development District Industrial Development
of Commerce or one of the economic
development contacts listed below: www.eoddok.org marie@muskogeeport.com
Ernie Moore, Executive Director 918-682-7886
Oklahoma Department of Commerce emoore@eoddok.org
Charlotte Howe, Regional Development 918-682-7891 Northeast Oklahoma
Specialist Northeast Oklahoma Regional Alliance (NORA)
918-619-2482 Fort Smith Regional Alliance www.neokregion.org
charlotte.howe@okcommerce.gov 479-783-3111 Darla Heller, Executive Director
dheller@neokregion.org
James Johnson, Regional Development Grand Gateway Economic 918-772-8334
Specialist, North Central Oklahoma Development Association
(located at Meridian Technology Center, grandgateway.org Northern Oklahoma
Stillwater) Edward Crone, Executive Director Development Authority
405-630-7455 executivedir@grandgateway.org nodanet.org
james.johnson@okcommerce.gov 800-482-4594 Vicki Eggers, Economic Development
580-237-4810
Bartlesville Development Corporation Miami Area Economic
bdaok.org Development Service Inc. Oklahoma Small Business
David Wood, President www.miami-ok.org Development Center
dwood@bdaok.org Steve Gilbert, President/CEO www.oksbdc.org
918-336-7371 Miami Regional Chamber of Commerce info@oksbdc.org
918-542-8405 580-745-2877
Central Oklahoma Economic
Development District Ponca City Development Authority
www.coedd.net goponca.com
Pete Seikel, Director David Myers, Executive Director
405-273-6410 dmyers @goponca.com
580-765-7070

POINT OF INTEREST:
The Pioneer Woman Mercantile is a
destination bakery, deli, and general store in
Pawhuska, Oklahoma. In 2012, cookbook author
and Food Network host Ree Drummond and her
husband, Ladd, purchased The Osage Mercantile
Building in downtown Pawhuska. After renovating
the building, the Drummonds opened the Merc in
Courtesy photo

October 2016.

2017 Location Oklahoma 39

REGION: SOUTHEAST
Brewing up success
$1 million grant helps Krebs expand
By Heide Brandes
Krebs Brewing started out with a
slightly-less-than-respectable past, but
has now become one of the largest and
most successful brewing companies in
Oklahoma.
Thanks to growth in the craft beer
industry in Oklahoma and the acquisition
of Prairie Artisan Ales, Krebs Brewing
has enjoyed unprecedented growth
over the past three years, expanding its
operations into a new brewing facility in
McAlester.
40 2017 Location Oklahoma
“This is an old family business,”
said Krebs Brewing Co. President Zach
Prichard. “My great-grandfather started
making and selling beer illegally back
in the 1920s, and he started a restaurant
in Krebs where he sold the beer illegally.
My parents continued to operate the
restaurant Pete’s Place, and when the
laws changed in the late 1970s, it all
changed.”
Not until 1995 could Oklahomans
enjoy a handcrafted Choc beer legally. In
2004, Krebs Brewing, manufacturing
Choc beer, became an official company.
Krebs Brewing has been making beer
for more than four generations. Courtesy photos
“We’ve been making and selling beer
here in Krebs for four generations,” said
Prichard. “In 2012, we started making
beer for another company, Prairie Artisan
Ales, and that beer was pretty popular.
We went through a period through 2014
where we saw huge growth numbers,
and it seemed like a pretty big deal.”
However, the Krebs facility was getting
pretty cramped. Although the company
added new equipment and acquired a
few outside warehouses, it was clear that
Krebs Brewing needed more room.

“We developed a relationship with
the city of McAlester’s community
development guys, which eventually
led to a grant,” Prichard said. “We
bought out Prairie Artisan in 2015, so
the process of working with McAlester
was put on hold for a while. But in 2016,
they came back to us and they brought
opportunity to us.”
Krebs Brewing knew it needed to
expand, and the company looked at
Oklahoma City and North Texas as
possible locations. Still, McAlester offered
the best location and the best deal.
“As I worked with the economic
development (in McAlester area), I also
began to appreciate the kind of people
we found there,” Prichard said. “We
were able to bring people in from the
community, and it surprised me the
quality of people we could find locally.
We decided we wanted to stay here.”
The Oklahoma Department of
Commerce awarded the city a $1 million
Community Development Block Grant
to build the new brewery at the Steven
Taylor Industrial Park in McAlester.
“We became involved early in the
process, when Zach was considering
expanding his footprint to increase
capacity,” said Kirk Ridenour, economic
MARKET ACCESS/LOCATION:
Southeastern Oklahoma is centrally located within the United
States and in close proximity to several of the nation’s major met-
ropolitan markets, including Dallas/Fort Worth, Memphis, Kansas
City, and St. Louis.
LARGEST CITIES
Shawnee.........................................................30,866
McAlester........................................................18,324
Ada..................................................................17,149
Durant..............................................................16,767
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2011-2015
REGION: SOUTHEAST
development director for the city of
McAlester.
Prichard had approached an owner of
a local building who then reached out to
the city’s economic development office
directly.
“I believe McAlester retained this
project for two reasons – the flexibility
of the assistance and the roots of the
company,” Ridenour said. “Other
communities and states may have been
able to offer incentive packages of similar
value, but the city of McAlester tried
to structure a package that would be a
real benefit to Krebs Brewing Co. Just as
significant, Zach’s roots are in the area
and he wanted to keep his operation
local, if possible.”
 For the city of McAlester, the
expansion was the perfect opportunity
to retain a local company and expand
its operations, capturing all the typical
economic benefits like additional jobs
and wealth generation.
Because of the recent acquisition of
Prairie Ales, the city determined Krebs
Brewing would require assistance in
securing a private loan for its capital
improvements. With McAlester City
Council approval, the city provided a
certificate of deposit to the local bank
offering the loan to be used as collateral.
“Early in the process, we considered
several incentive possibilities to assist
Zach with his property. Once it was
apparent this project would likely be
eligible for CDBG EDIF (economic
development infrastructure financing)
funding from the Oklahoma Department
of Commerce, we began working in
that direction,” Ridenhour said. “To
best assist the needs of Krebs Brewery,
we applied for a CDBG grant to help
purchase a vacant industrial building.
In this way, we are able to offer Zach a
building with reduced rent, freeing up
monthly working capital to be used for
the operation side.”
Today, Krebs is already shipping beer
from the new location and is anticipating
having full packaging and fermentation
operations by this fall.
“One of the nice things about the new
location is that we are now on one parcel
of land. We are going to grow really, really
quickly, but this spot is perfectly sized to
fit the demand,” Prichard said. “Because
of the grant, we have the opportunity to
grow, but in a controlled manner.”
The company, which distributes
internationally, plans to open a small
taproom in downtown McAlester
that will feature and sell its sour beer
selections.
2017 Location Oklahoma 41
REGION: SOUTHEAST

TOP INDUSTRY QUALITY OF LIFE

CLUSTERS
DEMOGRAPHICS
Population: 451,409 *Range of counties
Median Household Income: $30,617 - $47,077* within this region
Mean Household Income: $43,480 - $58,185*

COMMUTING PATTERNS:
Education Average Commute Time
Energy
Aerospace

17.4
Manufacturing
Health Care
Transportation Commuter patterns for this region range from

to 26.7
and Logistics 17.4 minutes in Pontotoc County to 26.7 minutes
in Pushmataha County
Agriculture
and Bioscience
Information and Finance
min
LARGEST
EMPLOYERS

EDUCATION
The region is home to a dozen higher education institutions
and technology centers.

McAlester Army 30.8% 6.3% 7%

Ammunition Plant
Chickasaw Nation HS diploma GED or alt. credential Some college,
less than 1 year
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2011-2015

Choctaw Nation
Citizen Potawatomi Nation
Cardinal Glass
BrucePac

WORKFORCE 16.6% 7.2% 11.4%

Some college, Associate degree Bachelor’s degree
1+ years,
no degree

Labor Force: 201,838

Employed: 192,013
Unemployed: 9,825
Unemployment Rate: 4.9% 4.7% 0.7% 0.5%
Source: Oklahoma Employment Securities
Commission, March 2017
Master’s degree Prof. school degree Doctorate degree

42 2017 Location Oklahoma

 REGION: SOUTHEAST

AREA ECONOMIC Durant, City of/Industrial Authority

www.ok-durant.org
Shawnee Economic
Development Foundation
DEVELOPMENT Tommy Kramer, sedf.biz
Economic Development Director Tim Burg, Executive Director
CONTACTS tkramer@durant.org tburg@sedf.biz
580-924-4570 405-273-7490
For more information on specific areas in
this region, contact the regional development Eastern Oklahoma Development McAlester, City of
specialist at the Oklahoma Department
District www.cityofmcalester.com
of Commerce or one of the economic
development contacts listed below: www.eoddok.org Kirk Ridenour, Community and
Ernie Moore, Executive Director Economic Development Director
emoore@eoddok.org leroy.alsup@cityofmcalester.com
Oklahoma Commerce Department
918-682-7891 918-423-9300
Glenn Glass, Regional Development
Specialist, Southeast Oklahoma
Kiamichi Economic Development Oklahoma Small Business
405-596-1640
District of Oklahoma Development Center
glenn.glass@okcommerce.gov
www.keddo.org www.oksbdc.org
Danny Baldwin, Executive Director 580-745-2877
Ada Jobs Foundation
dbaldwin@keddo.org info@oksbdc.org
www.growada.com
800-722-8180
James Eldridge, Interim President/CEO
Oklahoma Southeast
405-396-6651
Seminole Economic www.oklahomasoutheast.com
Development Council OklahomaSoutheast@gmail.com
Central Oklahoma Economic
www.locateinseminole.org 405-596-1640
Development District
Steve Saxon, Director
www.coedd.net
stevesaxon@yahoo.com/ Southern Oklahoma
Pete Seikel, Director
steve@seminole-oklahoma.net Development Association
coedd@flash.net
405-650-5341 www.soda-ok.org
405-273-6410
Jon McCormick, Executive Director
jmccormick@soda-ok.org

POINT OF INTEREST:
Beavers Bend State Park is located in the
Photo courtesy of Oklahoma Tourism

mountainous region of southeast Oklahoma along

the shores of Broken Bow Lake and the Mountain
Fork River. Guests have plenty of activities to choose
from including biking, canoeing/rafting/kayaking,
children’s programs, fishing and more.

2017 Location Oklahoma 43

REGION: SOUTHWEST
Spreading its wings
Ardmore Development Authority
aids King Aerospace’s growth
By Heide Brandes
When Jerry King-Echevarria was
looking to expand his Addison, Texas-
based company in the early ’90s, he
explored the infrastructure and resources
within a set radius of Dallas.
His search led him north of the
Red River to the Ardmore Industrial
Airpark, where the facilities and
infrastructure met his bidding at a
reasonable price.
44 2017 Location Oklahoma
King Aerospace’s facility in the Ardmore Industrial Airpark.
“Mr. King had a vision of what King
Aerospace could be at Ardmore, and
the city of Ardmore was very open to
working with us to bring new business
to the community,” said Stephen “Steve”
Cullen, chief operating officer of King
Aerospace Commercial Corp., a division
of King Aerospace Inc.
Since then, KACC has grown its
footprint at the Ardmore Industrial
Airpark to four hangars, in addition to
the creation of a fixed-based operator
Courtesy photo
operation and a restaurant, Jake’s Joint.
King Aerospace provides airframe
and engine maintenance, engineering
services and avionics maintenance and
modifications on aircraft. The company
also provides mission equipment
operators, training support and
comprehensive logistic services.
Cullen said the company’s
relationship with the Ardmore
Development Authority was a big
reason for its success.
 REGION: SOUTHWEST

“The Ardmore Industrial Airpark
offered a great location between Dallas
and Oklahoma City with reasonable
proximity to other metropolitan areas
and aircraft,” Cullen said. “Over the
nearly 25 years King Aerospace has been
in Ardmore, the Ardmore Development
Authority has invested over $2 million
in improvements designed to expand
and upgrade facilities as well as enhance
productivity.”
The Ardmore Development Authority
has provided reduced rent, loan
facilitation, infrastructure improvements
and runway reconstruction. The
extension of the main runway to 9,000
feet allowed access to the Ardmore
Airpark to even more of King
Aerospace’s customers.
Additional infrastructure
improvements are underway and
scheduled at the airpark to further
enhance the ability of King Aerospace to
be competitive and serve its customers
from the Ardmore location, said Mita
Bates, president of the Ardmore Chamber
of Commerce, Ardmore Development
Authority, Ardmore Tourism Authority
and Ardmore Chamber of Commerce
Foundation.
“King Aerospace is the anchor aviation
tenant at the Ardmore Industrial Airpark,
and we consider them a valued partner.
We have supported them in their growth
over the past 24 years and are in the
process of infrastructure improvements
to allow them to succeed in a very
competitive environment.”
One of those current improvements
includes the replacement of hangar doors
in the company’s main hangar facility,
Cullen said.
“This is a major effort and cost but will
greatly improve our facility operations
and presentation to aircraft owners
who are considering bringing their
corporate and Boeing-size aircraft to
King Aerospace for maintenance, repair,
and overhaul, whether it be a heavy
maintenance check or a complete interior,
paint and maintenance job, at Ardmore,
Oklahoma,” he said.
The company serves corporate, small
fleet operators, private owners and
military and federal agencies.
“We are one of the few, if not only,
large aircraft MROs that is privately
owned and operated by founding family
members,” said Cullen. “We tend to
focus on serving small-fleet operators.
We also are one of the very few MROs
that can paint V VIP level aircraft
and at the same time provide interior
refurbishment and maintenance.”
King Aerospace’s work over the
years has earned the company the
U.S. Small Business Administration’s
Administrator’s Award for Excellence
in 2000 for outstanding contribution
and service to the nation and the SBA’s
National Small Business Regional Prime
Contractor of the Year award in 2002.
“Ardmore is a great community with
good values. That has attracted several
of our employees to relocate here,”
Cullen said. “We are able to recruit and
bring in a strong, skilled workforce that
meets the King Aerospace culture in
servicing our customers.”

MARKET ACCESS/LOCATION:
The H.E. Bailey Turnpike connects the southwestern part of the
state with Oklahoma City. Lawton, the largest city in southwestern
Oklahoma, is not too far from one of the busiest airports in the
country. Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport has seven flights a day
to Dallas-Fort Worth, where business travelers can easily connect to
flights anywhere in the country.

LARGEST CITIES
Lawton�����������������������������������������������������������97,589
Ardmore��������������������������������������������������������24,955
Duncan����������������������������������������������������������23,317
Altus���������������������������������������������������������������19,549
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2011-2015

2017 Location Oklahoma 45

REGION: SOUTHWEST

QUALITY OF LIFE
TOP INDUSTRY DEMOGRAPHICS
CLUSTERS Population: 356,533 *Range of counties
Median Household Income: $31,250-$49,632* within this region
Mean Household Income: $46,905-$63,660*

COMMUTING PATTERNS:
Average Commute Time
Manufacturing
Transportation/
Distribution & Logistics
Health Care 14.4 Commuter patterns for this region range from
15 minutes in Jackson County to 26.1 minutes in

to 24.7
Energy
Greer County.
Aerospace

min
LARGEST
EMPLOYERS

EDUCATION
The region is home to 10 higher education institutions
and technology centers.
Fort Sill Army Base
Halliburton
Energy Services Inc.
Goodyear Tire &
Rubber Company 31% 5.8% 7.5%
Michelin North
America Inc. HS diploma GED or alt. credential Some college,
Dollar General less than 1 year
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2011-2015

Altus Air Force Base

WORKFORCE
17.3% 6.1% 12.7%
Some college, Associate degree Bachelor’s degree
1+ years,
no degree

Labor Force: 154,447

Employed: 147,457
Unemployed: 6,990
Unemployment Rate: 4.5%
Source: Oklahoma Employment Securities
4.2% 0.8% 0.7%
Commission, March 2017
Master’s degree Prof. school degree Doctorate degree

46 2017 Location Oklahoma

 REGION: SOUTHWEST

AREA ECONOMIC Ardmore Chamber of Commerce/

Development Authority
Lawton Fort-Sill Economic
Development Corporation
DEVELOPMENT Mita Bates www.lawtonedc.com
President & CEO ceo@lawtonedc.com
CONTACTS mbates@ardmore.org (580-355-3541
580-223-7765
For more information on specific areas in Oklahoma Small Business
this region, contact the regional development Association of South Central Oklahoma Development Center
specialist at the Oklahoma Department
Governments www.oksbdc.org
of Commerce or one of the economic
development contacts listed below: www.ascog.org 580-745-2877
Tom Zigler, Director - Community and info@oksbdc.org
Economic Development
Oklahoma Department of Commerce
zigl_to@ascog.org Oklahoma Southwest Alliance
Roger Pulley, Regional Development
580-736-4828 www.okswa.com
Specialist, Southwest Oklahoma
405-401-4235
Duncan Area Economic Development Southwest Oklahoma Impact Coalition
roger.pulley@okcommerce.gov
Foundation (SOIC)
www.ok-duncan.com www.soiconline.org
Brandy McIntyre, Regional Development
Lyle Roggow, President/CEO Marilyn Feaver, Executive Director
Specialist, Western Oklahoma
lyle@ok-duncan.com 405-574-1368
405-401-4235
580-255-9675
brandy.mcintyre@okcommerce.gov
Southwestern Oklahoma Development
Great Plains Technology Center Authority
Altus/Southwest Area Economic
Keith Bridges, Director of Economic www.swoda.org
Development Corp.
Development Debora Glasgow, Executive Director
www.altussouthwest.com
kbridges@gptech.org debora@swoda.org
David C. Webb
580-250-5558 580-562-4882
davidcwebb@sbcglobal.net
580-481-2202

POINT OF INTEREST:
On the Chisholm Trail, a life-size bronze
monument by Oklahoma artist Paul Moore, pays
homage to the American cowboy and famous
cattle drive. The monument is on the grounds of
the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center in Duncan,
Oklahoma. In 2016, True West Magazine named
the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center one of its
Courtesy photo

“Top 10 Western Museums in the U.S.”

2017 Location Oklahoma 47

REGION: NORTHWEST

Kodak employees gather wtih Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin

at the grand opening of its Weatherford expansion project.
Courtesy photo

Expanding production
Technical capabilities,
skilled workforce a big draw for Kodak
By Heide Brandes
When it came time to open a new flexo
plate line to meet increased industry
demand for higher-quality flexographic
printed packaging, Kodak looked no
further than Weatherford, Oklahoma.
Kodak, one of the world’s largest
businesses in commercial print solutions,
broke ground in April at its Weatherford
plant to celebrate the expansion of its
manufacturing facility to make the
new flexo plates. The ceremony was
important not only to Kodak, but also to
Oklahoma.
The event also highlighted the
revitalization and investment of the
Weatherford plant in its 50th anniversary
year. The plant was chosen for the
expansion because of its strong technical
capabilities and existing skilled tenured
workforce.
“Kodak has been in Weatherford
for 50 years,” said Nicholas Rangel,
communications specialist with Kodak.
“That made the groundbreaking in
April a little more significant with it
being the 50th anniversary of the plant
groundbreaking.”
The $15 million investment represents
one of the company’s largest capital
investments since 2000 and underscores
the ongoing growth and adoption of
Kodak Flexcel NX plates.
“Kodak will be expanding its
production line in Weatherford to

48 2017 Location Oklahoma

 REGION: NORTHWEST

initially focus on supply of Flexcel NX
plates to customers in the Unites States
and Canada and Latin America,” Rangel
said. “It will be a sister operation to an
existing plate manufacturing facility in
Yamanashi, Japan. This expansion will be
adding 20 jobs.”
Jeff Clarke, CEO of Kodak, said the
growth of the Kodak Flexcel NX spoke
to the opportunity of the flexographic
packaging market. Weatherford’s
existing equipment, established
workforce and friendly business
atmosphere made the expansion
possible and easy for the company.
Although Kodak could have chosen
any of its locations for the expansion,
the Weatherford plant offered the
strongest deal in terms of state and local
support, technical abilities and business
costs. The workforce in Weatherford was
a draw as well.
“Kodak is a high-standard, high-
end corporation to deal with, and it’s
known to be a place where you want to
work,” said Chuck Dougherty, director
of economic development for the city of
Weatherford. “They train and give job
skills to employees. I think the support
Kodak saw from everyone from the city
to the governor was important, but much
of the credit goes to the Department of
Commerce’s incentive package and the
work they did.
“Plus, the fact that the Weatherford
plant had the existing equipment already
was key,” he said.
The expansion also means an influx of
new, high-paying jobs in Weatherford.
“Weatherford has a history of long-
term dedication,” Dougherty said. “We
have employees at that plant that have
worked there 20 years. The workforce
was a big factor. Plus, we have the
university here, so we have a pipeline of
skilled talent in the area.”
The new flexo plate line is expected
to be in full production by early 2019,
and the Weatherford expansion joins
the recent opening of Kodak’s Flexo
Packaging Technology Center in
Shanghai.
“Kodak is a strong community partner,
but a lot of people came together to make
this expansion happen,” said Dougherty.
“From our local leaders to state
leaders, we all worked to make this a
reality.”corporate and Boeing-size aircraft
to King Aerospace for maintenance,
repair, and overhaul, whether it be a
heavy maintenance check or a complete
interior, paint and maintenance job, at
Ardmore, Oklahoma,” he said.
The company serves corporate, small
fleet operators, private owners and
military and federal agencies.
“We are one of the few, if not only,
large aircraft MROs that is privately
owned and operated by founding family
members,” said Cullen. “We tend to
focus on serving small-fleet operators.
We also are one of the very few MROs
that can paint V VIP level aircraft
and at the same time provide interior
refurbishment and maintenance.”
King Aerospace’s work over the
years has earned the company the
U.S. Small Business Administration’s
Administrator’s Award for Excellence
in 2000 for outstanding contribution
and service to the nation and the SBA’s
National Small Business Regional Prime
Contractor of the Year award in 2002.
“Ardmore is a great community with
good values. That has attracted several
of our employees to relocate here,”
Cullen said. “We are able to recruit and
bring in a strong, skilled workforce that
meets the King Aerospace culture in
servicing our customers.”

MARKET ACCESS/LOCATION:
Enid, the largest city in northwestern Oklahoma, is centrally
located in the U.S. and is connected to the interstate highway system
via a four-lane state highway. Enid has a tower-controlled, all-
weather airport and is extending the runway from 6,500 feet to 8,000.
Northwestern Oklahoma also has several regional and
municipal airports as well as Vance Air Force Base in Enid.

LARGEST CITIES
Enid�����������������������������������������������������������������50,685
Woodward����������������������������������������������������12,591
Elk City............................................................12,424
Guymon���������������������������������������������������������11,978
Weatherford��������������������������������������������������11,663
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2011-2015

2017 Location Oklahoma 49

REGION: NORTHWEST

TOP INDUSTRY QUALITY OF LIFE

CLUSTERS
DEMOGRAPHICS
Population: 232,673 *Range of counties
Median Household Income: $41,972-$60,034* within this region
Mean Household Income: $55,364-$74,136*

COMMUTING PATTERNS:
Transportation & Average Commute Time
Distribution
Aerospace & Defense
Commuter patterns for this region range from
Agriculture & Bioscience

14.5
14.5 minutes in Woods County to 24.2 minutes in
Energy Roger Mills County.

Information

to 24.2
& Finance Services

Enid

LARGEST #7 Best Small Cities to

Start a Business
Wallet Hub, 2017
min
EMPLOYERS

EDUCATION
The region is home to more than a dozen higher education
institutions and technology centers.

Advance Pierre Food Co.

Vance Air Force Base 31.1% 5.5% 6.3%
CSC
Seaboard Farms HS diploma GED or alt. credential Some college,
less than 1 year
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2011-2015

Northwestern Oklahoma
State University

WORKFORCE
17.6% 6.5% 16.7%
Some college, Associate degree Bachelor’s degree
1+ years,
no degree

Labor Force: 130,011

Employed: 125,362
Unemployed: 4,649
Unemployment Rate: 3.6%
Source: Oklahoma Employment Securities
5.3% 1% 0.8%
Commission, March 2017
Master’s degree Prof. school degree Doctorate degree

50 2017 Location Oklahoma

 REGION: NORTHWEST

AREA ECONOMIC Northwest Oklahoma Alliance (NwOA)

www.nwoka.com
Fairview Chamber
of Commerce
DEVELOPMENT www.fairviewokchamber.com
Panhandle Regional Economic Jeannie Marlin, Executive Director
CONTACTS Development Coalition Inc. 624 N. Main,
www.predci.com Fairview, OK 73737
For more information on specific areas in Michael Shannon, Executive Director fairviewchamber@att.net
this region, contact the regional development
executivedirector@predici.com 580-227-2527
specialist at the Oklahoma Department
of Commerce or one of the economic 580-338-8500
development contacts listed below: Northern Oklahoma Development
Woodward Industrial Foundation Authority
Oklahoma Department www.wifok.com nodanet.org
of Commerce LaVern Phillips, President Vicki Eggers, Economic Development
Stan Ralstin, Regional Development wif@sbcglobal.net (580-237-4810
Specialist, NW OK 580-254-5616
405-219-9446 Oklahoma Economic Development
stan_ralstin@okcommerce.gov Alva Area Chamber Authority
of Commerce www.oeda.org
Brandy McIntyre, Regional Development www.alvaok.net Justin Carnagey, Executive Director
Specialist, Western Oklahoma chamber@alvaok.net jcarnagey@oeda.org
405-401-4235 580-327-1647 580-625-4531
brandy.mcintyre@okcommerce.gov
Beaver County Chamber Oklahoma Small Business
Enid Regional Development Alliance of Commerce Development Center
www.growenid.com www.beavercountychamberofcommerce.com www.oksbdc.org
Brent Kisling, bvrchamber@gmail.com info@oksbdc.org
Executive Director 580-625-4726 580-745-2877
kisling@growenid.com
580-233-4232 Elk City, City of/Industrial Authority Weatherford, City of
www.elkcity.com cityofweatherford.com
Guymon, City of Jim Mason, Director of Economic and Chuck Dougherty,
www.guymonok.org Community Development Economic Development Director
Kevin Pate, masonj@elkcity.com progress@cityofweatherford.com
Community Development Director 580- 225-3230 580-774-4505
kevin.pate@guymonok.org
580-338-3396

POINT OF INTEREST:
Sunset Hills Golf Course is an award-
winning,USGA-rated golf course in Guymon.
The 18-hole golf course is adjacent to the stocked
Sunset Lake, a mini-locomotive, paddle boats,
walking trail, and a 300-acre game reserve with
bison, elk and longhorn cattle.
Courtesy photo

2017 Location Oklahoma 51

Choctaw Means Business In Durant. From our base of operations in Durant, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma encourages,
Choctaw Means
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