Issue 4 2018 by New Pioneer

2018 Issue 4

D e ve l o p , I n n ov a t e , P r o s p e r

Oklahoma Main Street Center Announces Reinvestment Figures Announcement includes local community program milestones p. 4 Italian Manufacturer Breaks Ground in Okla. p. 3

OKcommerce.gov

THE STATE OF TRADE SERVICES Become Export Ready

Commerce Trade Services We can guide local companies through the process of taking their existing business international. In 2017, Commerce assisted 62 companies. • Trade Counseling - Analyzes the exporting capabilities of individual Oklahoma companies to help them prepare to enter new markets or sell new products to known markets. • Trade Shows - The agency attends and hosts booths at trade shows to provide venues for Oklahoma exporters to meet international buyers, distributors or TX representatives.

• International Business Matchmaking - Our no-cost agent and distributor search service connects Oklahoma companies with businesses or individuals in targeted export markets that can ensure products and services reach the right industries, sectors, and customers. • Information Services - ExportWatch service updates subscribers on current export opportunities as well as upcoming seminars, workshops and webinars for international business growth.

Trade and Export Partners: • Export-Import Bank of the U.S. • Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry • Oklahoma District Export Council • Oklahoma Governor’s International Team • Oklahoma International Trade Center SBDC • Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance • Overseas Private Investment Corporation • U.S. Small Business Administration

companies with international business needs assisted by Oklahoma’s global trade team in 2017

For more, information contact: Jesse Garcia, Global Trade Manager 405-815-5136 jesse.garcia@okcommerce.gov or visit okcommerce.gov/trade

Italian Manufacturer Breaks Ground on New Oklahoma Facility TX

We are pleased to be a part of these partner efforts to bring Sofidel to the State of Oklahoma. It took a lot of hard work from a variety of leaders and shows how successfully Oklahoma works together. The investment and growth this will bring to this region and Oklahoma is no small feat. We are glad Sofidel choose us and hope we can continue to help companies like them follow suite, by joining our state of success.

Charles Kimbrough, Director of Business Development, Commerce Oklahoma Department of Commerce (Commerce) representatives, including Secretary of Commerce Deby Snodgrass, Director of Business Development Charles Kimbrough and Regional Development Director James Johnson, attended the groundbreaking for Sofidel Group in Inola, Okla., on March 16. Speakers at the ceremony included Luigi Lazzareshi, CEO of Sofidel Gorup, Gov. Mary Fallin and representatives from PSO, the Tulsa Regional Chamber, Rogers County and the City of Inola. Sofidel Group, an Italian manufacturer of tissue paper, broke ground on a $360 million capital investment in Inola, Okla. The project will include the construction of a new facility and the creation of 300 jobs. “Sofidel will build here a new, modern integrated plant to serve the south-central and central-western areas of this great country, where we have been operating since 2012,” said Lazzareschi. “I am glad to announce this new greenfield investment – the second one, after the first made in Ohio. This new investment will support our growth in the U.S. significantly.” Sofidel’s facilities, expected to be operational by 2020, will have production capacity of 120,000 tons of tissue paper each year. The 1.8-million-square-foot plant is almost 40 percent larger than the Macy’s Fulfillment Center in north

Luigi Lazzareshi, CEO of Sofidel Group, with Commerce representatives, Director of Business Development Charles Kimbrough and Regional Development Director James Johnson

Tulsa County. Lazzareshi spoke about meeting with the Commerce years prior at SelectUSA and how those conversations eventually brought him to Oklahoma for a visit. That visit connected him with people who helped his company and team to decide on Inola, Okla., for their next location. “We are excited that Sofidel has continued confidence to make this tremendous investment in Oklahoma,” Gov. Mary Fallin said. “This global company has seen the advantages Oklahoma provides in its current operation, and now will double down with a state-of-the-art production facility in Inola. This is another example that our economic probusiness policies are diversifying Oklahoma’s economy.” “We are pleased to be a part of these partner efforts to bring Sofidel to the State of Oklahoma. It took a lot of hard work from a variety of leaders and shows how successfully Oklahoma works together” said Kimbrough. “The investment and growth this will bring to this region and Oklahoma is no small feat. We are glad Sofidel choose us and hope we can continue to help companies like them follow suite, by joining our state of success.” For more news and information, visit sofidel.com

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Oklahoma Main Street Center Announces 2017 Reinvestment Figures Statewide, Oklahoma Main Street communities had a phenomenal year, outpacing 2016 in reinvestment statistics and volunteer hours. Main Street continues to be a successful, proven program due to the Oklahoma citizens who are dedicated to preserving their history, and building stronger communities. These historic commercial districts are a reflection of the entire community and demonstrate pride of place.” Buffy Hughes, Oklahoma Main Street Center Director Figures released from the Oklahoma Main Street Center announce program totals for 2017 including local community program milestones. “Statewide, Oklahoma Main Street communities had a phenomenal year, outpacing 2016 in reinvestment statistics and volunteer hours,” said Buffy Hughes, Oklahoma Main Street Center Director. “Main Street continues to be a successful, proven program due to the Oklahoma citizens who are dedicated to preserving their history, and building stronger communities. These historic commercial districts are a reflection of the entire community and demonstrate pride of place. Dedicated Main Street program directors, their board of directors, and volunteers put in more than 69,000 hours of time and effort to make these districts unique, vital and strong. We couldn’t do it without them.”

Community highlights from 2017 include private reinvestment numbers and the year each was accepted into the state program: • Durant Main Street (1997) – $15 million • Main Street Duncan (1986) – $20 million • Main Street Muskogee (2008) – $35 million • Okmulgee Main Street (1986) – $40 million • Ponca City Main Street (1987) – $40 million • Kendall Whittier Main Street (2010) – $130 million For Durant Main Street, the $15 million represents the pride that is being shown in their historic district. “As Durant Main Street reaches the milestone of $15 million invested into Downtown Durant, we view it as an investment in our entire community that was achieved by working together,” said Stephanie Gardner, Executive Director of Durant Main Street.

Community highlights include private reinvestment numbers and the year each was accepted into the state program: Main Street Community

Year Est.

Private Reinvestment Numbers

Durant, Okla.

1997

$15 million

Duncan, Okla.

1986

$20 million

Muskogee, Okla.

2008

$35 million

Okmulgee, Okla.

1986

$40 million

Ponca City , Okla.

1987

$40 million

Kendall Whittier, Okla.

2010

$130 million

“Downtown is the heart of our city and when it flourishes, it is a source of pride and enjoyment for all who reside or visit here.” For Main Street Muskogee, the $35 million milestone proves that while they have achieved much already, more is to come. “For any community to ultimately succeed, private investment is critical,” said John Newby, Executive Director of Main Street Muskogee. “Downtown

$109M

Nearly 530 New Jobs 150+ Business Openings, Relocations and Expansions

2017 investment in Main Street programs including private sector and public improvement projects

69,000+ Volunteer Hours 140+ Building Façade Renovations

Muskogee is on the cusp of great things and this investment indicates a willingness to invest in the future. This past investment, along with the many millions in the pipeline, will go a long way towards returning the heart and soul our downtown and ultimately our entire community.” Okmulgee Main Street’s milestone reflects the continued commitment made by the community to their district. “Okmulgee was one of the first Main Street programs in the state of Oklahoma, so we have definitely seen our share of ups and downs throughout the last 32 years,” said Heather Sumner, Okmulgee Main Street Executive Director. “When we received our $20 million award in 2015, we had no idea that in a short 2.5 years we would be hitting our $40 million milestone. That is a huge accomplishment for a small community of just 12,500, especially when the majority of that $40 million of reinvestment has come from the efforts of our local citizens! Our Main Street program continues to be the driving force behind our downtown revitalization movement, and we will continue moving full speed ahead. I am beyond proud of our community, but I am most proud of our Main Street program for never giving up and always pushing to make our downtown a place that people want to live, work and play!” Ponca City also reached $40 million during 2017. “A healthy vibrant downtown is key to a strong community,” said Rhonda Skrapke, Ponca City Main Street Board President. “Our downtown has many iconic landmarks and is the heart and soul of our community. These reinvestment dollars are a major stimulator for economic growth and are a key revenue generator for our local economy.”

In addition to the community news, information gathered for 2017 from the 30 active Main Street communities including three urban areas as well as five associate programs includes: • • • • •

Nearly $109 million in both private and public reinvestment More than 150 building façade renovations More than 69,000 volunteer hours Nearly 530 jobs More than 140 business openings, relocations or expansions

Cumulative numbers for the entire statewide program since 1985 include: • • • • •

More than $1.6 billion in both private and public reinvestment Nearly 4,900 façade rehabilitations More than 1.4 million volunteer hours More than 18,600 jobs Nearly 5,400 business openings, relocations or expansions

The Oklahoma Main Street Center is one of 42 state coordinating programs around the nation. As a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, more than 2,000 Main Streets across the nation are committed to historic preservation-based community revitalization. Through education, outreach, and training, the National Main Street Center has equipped these local programs to operate using the Main Street Four Point Approach™ including Organization, Design, Promotion and Economic Vitality. For more information on the Main Street Program call 405-815-6552 or visit OKcommerce.gov/mainstreet.

Spirit AeroSystems Celebrates Grand Opening Governor Fallin helps welcome new fabrication center in McAlester The opening of Spirit’s center of excellence in McAlester is further evidence that Oklahoma is one of the world’s premier destinations for the aerospace and defense industries. We are appreciative of Spirit’s confidence in our state and the industry, and are excited for the opportunities this will create for Oklahomans. “

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin Governor Mary Fallin congratulates Spirit AeroSystems officials during recent opening of the aerospace company’s center of excellence in McAlester. The center focuses on the fabrication of complex commercial and military aircraft parts.

Governor Mary Fallin recently helped Spirit AeroSystems unveil its second center of excellence focusing on the fabrication of complex commercial and military aircraft parts. The facility, at the company’s McAlester site, will support current customer contracts while accommodating new work in the global aerostructures market. “We announced plans last year to create a three- and four-axis fabrication center of excellence to support the growth of our fabrication capabilities to a billiondollar business for the company,” said Spirit President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Gentile. “Rather than moving work to Mexico, we imported 18 new machines from a shop in Juarez, Mexico. We began producing parts for customers in McAlester last year, and the site has capacity to bring in more machines as demand increases.” “The opening of Spirit’s center of excellence in McAlester is further evidence that Oklahoma is one of the world’s premier destinations for the aerospace and defense industries,” said Fallin. “We are appreciative of Spirit’s confidence in our state and the industry, and are excited for the opportunities this will create for Oklahomans. This is another example that our commitment to pro-business policies is resulting in a wide variety of jobs for our state.”

The purchase and installation of new equipment began in 2017, augmenting the company’s existing capabilities as one of the world’s largest fabricators of aerospace parts. Since production began, more than half of the 1,000 parts scheduled for production in McAlester have been through their first article inspection. “Along with the new five-axis center of excellence that was unveiled in Wichita in February, the center in McAlester further solidifies our competitive advantage for fabrication work,” said Spirit Senior Vice President of Global Fabrication Kevin Matthies. The new McAlester center specializes in small- to medium-sized parts and will generate millions of dollars in new revenue for Spirit. “We’re thrilled to bring this work into our McAlester site,” said Bill Brown, Vice President of Oklahoma Operations for Spirit. “The collaboration we experienced with local, regional and national UAW leadership was critical to allowing that to happen.” Spirit’s overall fabrication capability spans more than 2.6 million square feet and produces more than 38,000 parts daily. Spirit offers customers a wide range of solutions including machining, skin and sheet metal fabrication.

City of Durant Receives Block Grant Award The Oklahoma Department of Commerce (Commerce) Community Development announced that the City of Durant is the recipient of a Community Development Block Grant - Economic Development Infrastructure Financing (CDBG-EDIF) award totaling $1,000,000.

The award will be used for the construction of water and wastewater infrastructure improvements to support the expansion of SteelFab, Inc. This award allocation will help support Oklahoma’s continuing commitment to job creation and diversification of Oklahoma’s economic base. Commerce manages the federally funded CDBGEDIF program in the State. Additional funding for the project will be provided by the company. The CDBG-EDIF program helps eligible cities, towns and counties with the financing of infrastructure improvements for new companies or industries locating to Oklahoma or expanding Oklahoma businesses. The purpose of the program is to stimulate long-term job creation and investment.

SteelFab, Inc, founded in 1955 in Charlotte, NC, is a leading AISC-certified fabricator of structural steel in the United States. SteelFab, Inc.,with over 900 employees in 14 locations across the Southeast and Texas, has selected Durant, Okla. as the site for their new structural steel fabrication facility. This facility will provide steel framework for commercial construction. The City of Durant has requested CDBG-EDIF funds to provide for the installation of water and sewer improvements necessary for water distribution and sewer collection services within both the City and Bryan County Rural Water & Sewer District No. 5 services areas. The CDBG funds request of $1.0 million will be used to construct the water and wastewater infrastructure needs to meet their manufacturing requirements and allow the company to create 49 new permanent jobs with 35 of those jobs to be made available to low and moderate income persons. To request a CDBG-EDIF application, contact Karen Adair, Commerce at Karen.Adair@OKcommerce.gov or call (405) 815-5363.

Gov. Fallin Helped Welcome Irish Prime Minister Governor Mary Fallin helped welcome Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar to Oklahoma, where he visited here with members of the Choctaw Nation who donated money to Irish famine relief in 1847. While he, Varadkar personally thanked Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton for the contribution made by his ancestors and announced a scholarship program that will allow members of the Choctaw Nation to come to Ireland to study. The prime minister made his comments during an event in which the Choctaw Nation presented traditional cultural and sporting performances. “I appreciate Prime Minister Varadkar for coming to Oklahoma to thank descendants of the Choctaw Nation for collecting money to assist his forefathers in the mid1800s during the potato famine,” said Fallin. “His visit demonstrates this unique relationship between the two nations. His arrival just ahead of St. Patrick’s Day helps illustrate the bonds of compassion and strength that unite them.”

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar holds a statue of Will Rogers presented to him by Governor Mary Fallin. The presentation was made after the prime minister met with the governor and Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton.

In 1847, the Choctaw Nation raised $170 for Irish potato famine relief, that amount would be worth in the tens of thousands of dollars today. The Choctaw Nation visited Ireland in 2017 to join in the unveiling of Kindred Spirits, a monument commemorating the bond between Ireland and the Choctaw Nation.

Upcoming Events and Important Dates GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP 2018 - ODOT TRASH-OFF Saturday, April 21, 2018 The Oklahoma Department of Transportation's TRASH-OFF is Oklahoma's signature event in the Great American Cleanup. Each spring, the ODOT TRASH-OFF brings together thousands of volunteers who are dedicated to making Oklahoma a cleaner, greener and more beautiful state – making it the single largest ONE-day cleanup event in the state of Oklahoma. To register for the ODOT TRASH-OFF, simply register for the Great American Cleanup in Oklahoma and mark that you plan to host an event on the ODOT TRASH-OFF day. Register to host an event and receive free supplies for the ODOT TRASH-OFF day. keepoklahomabeautiful.com/gac-registration

INTERNATIONAL FINANCING SEMINAR

Wednesday, April 25, OKC – Francis Tuttle Tech Center 12777 N. Rockwell Avenue Oklahoma City, OK 73142 Location: Room D1870, Corporate Training Bldg. Time: Registration: 7:30 - 8:00 a.m. Program: 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Networking Luncheon: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

NEW PIONEER A PRODUCT OF THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE EDITOR: Kimberly Hickerson, Project Manager CONTRIBUTORS: Stefanie Appleton, Bryan Boone PHOTO CREDITS: Commerce

FOR NEW PIONEER SUBMISSIONS AND STORY IDEAS CONTACT: Kimberly Hickerson Editor-in-Chief - New Pioneer Oklahoma Department of Commerce 900 N. Stiles Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73104 (405) 815-5240 kimberly.hickerson@okcommerce.gov

Thursday, April 26, Tulsa – OSU-Tulsa Campus 700 N. Greenwood Avenue Tulsa, OK 74106 Location: Room 140, North Hall Time: Registration: 7:30 - 8:00 a.m. Program: 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Networking Luncheon: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. For more information or to register, contact: Jesse Garcia, Global Project Manager, 405-815-5136 jesse.garcia@okcommerce.gov or visit okcommerce.gov/business/trade/seminar MEMORIAL DAY Monday, May 28, 2018 State Offices Closed

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