2008 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards

By Mark Crawford (Jun/Jul 08)

Area Development’s Gold & Silver Shovel awards honor states that have generated top job-creation and investment projects across the nation. More

Business Services, Wind Power More Than “OK” for Oklahoma

By Mali R. Schantz-Feld (Jun/Jul 08)

“We are not seeing an economic decline in this region,” says Sandy Pratt, director for business services for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce (ODOC). Statistics show 15,565 new jobs and $1.6 billion of investments in fiscal year 2007 (July 1 to June 30), and in fiscal year 2008 to date, 9,483 jobs were created at an investment of $1.4 billion. More

North American Automotive Industry Continues to Deliver

By Mali R. Schantz-Feld (Oct/Nov 07)

Despite recent challenges, automakers and suppliers continue to exhibit confidence in the United States and Canada by announcing new projects and expansions and employing thousands of skilled workers. More

An In-Depth Look at the Southern States

By Mali R. Schantz-Feld (Aug 07)

The Southern states are thriving, thanks to entrepreneurs with innovative high-tech ideas, strong public and private investment, and enthusiastic support from state and local governments. More

A conversation with… Sandy Pratt, Deputy Director for Business Services, Oklahoma Dept. of Commerce

By Mali R. Schantz-Feld (Jun/Jul 07)

“ Because of our geographic location processing and logistics/distribution, our central and south central regions show promise, especially for food processing and logistics/distribution. We also see growth in business services, software development, and customer care; data centers find lower electrical costs, reasonable and available real estate, and abundant land here.” More

State Contacts

State Contact

Oklahoma Dept. of Commerce - www.okcommerce.gov

Oklahoma has smart new ways to expand your business, with free training programs, low overall business costs, and fine quality of life.
Sandy Pratt, Dir. Business Location

900 N. Stiles
P.O. Box 26980
Oklahoma City, OK 73126-0980
800-588-5959
Fax: 405-815-5290

Website

Inquiries

Demographics

Buildings & Sites

Utility Contact

Empire District Electric Co. - www.empiredistrict.com

Empire District Electric Company serves a 10,000-square-mile region with rates that are the lowest in its area.
Marsha Wallace

P.O. Box 127
Joplin, MO 64802
800-874-0383
417-623-4700
Fax: 417-625-5169

Website

Inquiries

Demographics

Buildings & Sites

Local Contact

Gtr. Oklahoma City Partnership - www.greateroklahomacity.com

The greater Oklahoma City region has been redesigned for the future. This vibrant, activity-filled area, cited as one of the Best Places To Live In North America, enables its residents to enjoy an exceptional quality of life at an affordable cost. The 10-county region offers the perfect balance of the best - plenty of year-round sunshine, minimal traffic congestion and low pollution, an abundance of arts, excellence in education, a variety of recreation, and an ever-broadening cultural landscape. Canadian, Cleveland, Grady, Kingfisher, Lincoln, Logan, McClain, Oklahoma, Payne, and Pottawatomie counties create this region. Be among the growing number of those tying their futures to a city built in one day where dreams flourish and opportunity is boundless.
Robin Roberts, Exec. VP of Economic Development

123 Park Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
405-297-8954
Fax: 405-297-8908

Website

Inquiries

Demographics

Buildings & Sites

Local Contact

MidAmerica Industrial Park - www.maip.com

For companies considering a major manufacturing and distribution center to serve supply chains throughout the central region of the nation, MidAmerica Industrial Park would surely be an ideal candidate for further review. The park, Oklahoma’s largest, spans 9,000 acres with an array of amenities that make it one of the most distinctive industrial developments in the nation. Our on-site assets are key to the success and continued prosperity of the companies that we have here. Our job is to keep our existing infrastructure up to date while adding new elements that will enable our industries to compete even better in a global economy.
Don Berger, Mkt. Dir.