2016 Issue 6
Develop, Innovate, Prosper
Oklahoma Communities Named to “Best of” Lists Oklahoma Communities Named to List of Best Cities to Start a Business – OKC #3; Tulsa #9; Enid #11 Governor Mary Fallin today said three Oklahoma cities have been named to a list of best places to start a business. WalletHub recently released its 2016 Best Cities to Start a Business, ranking the 150 most populous cities in the U.S. based on business environment, access to resources and costs. Oklahoma City ranked No. 3 overall (up 18 spots from 2015), just behind Sioux Falls, S.D. and Grand Rapids, Mich. It also ranked No. 7 in business environment. Tulsa ranked No. 9 overall, including No. 4 in costs, and Enid ranked No. 11. “Small businesses are the backbone of Oklahoma’s economy, creating a large portion of jobs in our state. We are happy to see these three cities being recognized for being great places for business start-ups,” said Fallin. “The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well across Oklahoma, and we will continue to support business-friendly policies that will help cultivate small businesses.”
Oklahoma Communities Named to List of Best Cities to Start a Business – OKC #3; Tulsa #9; Enid #11
WalletHub’s analysts developed their findings by using 16 key metrics, ranging from five-year survival rate to affordability of office space to educational attainment of the local labor force. The full article can be found at http://bit.ly/1WwI9jq
OKC and Tulsa in Top Ten Best Cities for Hispanic Entrepreneurs Governor Mary Fallin announced that two Oklahoma cities are among the 10 best in the nation for Hispanic entrepreneurs. WalletHub recently released its 2016 Best Cities for Hispanic Entrepreneurs, ranking the 150 most populous cities in the U.S. based on business environment, access to resources and costs.
Best Cities for Tech Start-Ups Oklahoma City – ranked #10
Continued on page 5
New Regional Development Specialist for Northeast Oklahoma p. 3 CareerTech Students Take Experiment to International Competition p. 4 Aviation Center Celebrates Grand Opening p. 7
THE STATE OF GROWTH Regional Development Specialist Team
Laying the building blocks for success.
The Oklahoma Department of Commerce is dedicated to providing the support and tools necessary for Oklahoma companies to grow and thrive in our state. The Regional Development Specialist (RDS) Team offers hands-on assistance as well as referrals to resource and program providers to help support businesses in every part of Oklahoma. Whether you need to respond to a Request for Proposal (RFP), find potential funding resources for municipal projects, learn how to attract retail to your community, or TX develop a workforce, your RDS can connect you directly to the tools and resources your community needs to succeed and grow.
Our Services
The RDS Team provides hands-on assistance to communities and businesses. • Business Retention & Expansion • Business Attraction Programs • RFP Response Assistance • One-on-One Visits • Development Workshops • Trade Assistance • Community Grant Programs • Strategic Planning
80%
of all new jobs are created by existing companies.
• Regional Development Partnerships • Main Street Revitalization • Workforce Development Support
Contact our team today. To locate the Regional Development Specialist who serves your community, call 800-879-6552 or visit okcommerce.gov/development
Commerce Announces New Regional Development Specialist for Northeast Oklahoma Charlotte is a welcomed new member to the ODOC team and her region. She is an important asset for this area connecting communities, businesses and people with the resources and opportunities they need to grow.
~ James Johnson, RDS Director for ODOC Charlotte Howe is the new Regional Development Specialist (RDS) for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce (ODOC) in Northeast Oklahoma. Howe will serve a 16-county region in Northeast Oklahoma and will office in the area. Howe’s major priorities are to assist regional businesses, connect them to appropriate state and federal resource programs, provide retention and expansion assistance, and interface with workforce development entities. Additionally, she will provide development assistance for counties and municipalities in her service region and on-going support for existing regional partnerships. “Charlotte is a welcomed new member to the ODOC team and her region,” said James Johnson, RDS Director. “She is an important asset for this area connecting communities, businesses and people with the resources and opportunities they need to grow.” Her area includes Tulsa, the MidAmerica Industrial Park, the manufacturing hubs of Broken Arrow and Muskogee, as well as the McClellan-Kerr Navigation channel. A vital part of the RDS efforts are spent helping assist with business retention, expansion and attraction programs. Howe’s background in economic and business development make her an excellent resource for companies in the Northeast Oklahoma area looking for incentives, workforce resources, funding
avenues and more. Howe and her support team at the main ODOC office in Oklahoma City will continue to help new and established businesses flourish in Oklahoma. “I chose this position because I realized how important regionalism is to economic development in Northeast Oklahoma. Growing up here and raising a family in this region, I want to show people our assets and also help improve our quality of life in the region,” Howe said. “I hope to be a resource in my new role for our businesses, our communities and our potential businesses.”
Charlotte Howe is the new Regional Development Specialist (RDS) for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce (ODOC) in Northeast Oklahoma
Before coming to ODOC, Howe worked in community and economic development for the City of Jay from 2011-2016. She worked with community leaders in Jay to advance economic development efforts for the city and has experience in bringing new business to the northeast corner of the state. Prior to that experience, Howe worked as a congressional staffer in Washington D.C. She has a degree from the University of Arkansas. She lives in Jay, Okla., with her husband and two children and is excited to help the region grow. Contact information: Charlotte Howe, Economic Development Specialist for Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Phone: 918-619-2482; Email: charlotte.howe@okcommerce.gov
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CareerTech Students Take Experiment to International Space Station Competition
Pontotoc Technology Center students Corey Ardrey, Justin Harris, Savanna WeaselBear and Seth Bittle
A team of biotechnology students from Pontotoc Technology Center will compete at the International Space Station Research and Development conference next month in San Diego. Corey Ardrey, Justin Harris, Savanna WeaselBear and Seth Bittle finished in the top five in the national Genes in Space Science competition. The students designed an experiment for the space station as part of an assignment from their teacher, Kay Gamble. They studied genetic changes across generations as natural selection operates in a space environment and how the changes could aid in future space colonization. The Pontotoc team will receive travel awards to the conference, where they will compete against four other teams to have their experiment carried out on the International Space Station. They will
present their experiment to scientists, innovators and educators. The technology center will receive a miniPCR DNA Discovery System. PCR, (polymerase chain reaction), is used to make more DNA from a small sample. The toolkit Pontotoc Tech will receive includes the same DNA technology that is on the International Space Station. If the Oklahoma project wins in San Diego, the team will send its DNA experiment to the International Station and be listed as principal investigator in NASA documents. Team members have an opportunity to attend Space Biology Camp at New England BioLabs and will receive travel awards to the Kennedy Space Center to witness the launch of their experiment. To learn more about the competition, visit: http://bit.ly/1qtFpoL
The Pontotoc Technology Center is located in Ada, Oklahoma. District population is 40,638 based on 2010 census data. School districts served include Ada, *Allen, Byng, Latta, PickettCenter, Roff, Sasakwa, *Stonewall, Tupelo and Vanoss.
Oklahoma Communities Named to “Best of” Lists Continued from page 1
I am proud that Oklahoma City and Tulsa have been recognized in the top 10 cities for Hispanic entrepreneurs and hope our Hispanic community continues to thrive and create businesses in our state. My administration has been persistent in efforts to make entrepreneurship an easier and more streamlined process for all Oklahomans.
~ Governor Mary Fallin Tulsa ranked No. 9 and Oklahoma City ranked No. 10 for their Hispanic business-friendliness and Hispanic purchasing power. “I am proud that Oklahoma City and Tulsa have been recognized in the top 10 cities for Hispanic entrepreneurs and hope our Hispanic community continues to thrive and create businesses in our state,” said Fallin. “My administration has been persistent in efforts to make entrepreneurship an easier and more streamlined process for all Oklahomans.” U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President Javier Palomarez told WalletHub, “Not only is the Hispanic and Latino community expected to make up a third of the entire U.S. population by 2050, but this demographic is also creating businesses at 15 times the national rate today.” There are more than 4 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States. Those businesses have hauled in an extra $144 billion in combined yearly revenue since 2012, bumping 2015’s total to $661 billion, according to the chamber and analytics firm Geoscape. The full article can be found at http://bit.ly/1rGimAI
Best Cities for Tech Start-Ups Oklahoma City ranked #10 on Datafox’s list of “Best Cities for Tech Start-Ups (Outside New York and California) Datafox’s list was completed by looking at 3 viable aspect for startup tech companies: financial stability, affordability and business success. Oklahoma City combines the stability of established institutions with the vitality of innovative new startups. Anchored by publicly traded heavyweights Chesapeake Energy, Devon Energy, and Hobby Lobby, the city is also home to up-and-comers like Tailwind, a Pinterest marketing platform, and GoldFire Studios, which creates browser-based social games. What’s more, the private sector is deeply invested in
helping local entrepreneurs succeed. For example, Cowboy Technology Angels is an investment group comprised of alumni from nearby Oklahoma State University; while i2E, a private, not-for-profit corporation, focuses on growing local businesses with help from state funding. With Oklahoma University providing a ready supply of talent and innovation, Google Fiber, and depth in the medical and energy sectors, Oklahoma City’s fast-growing tech scene is one to watch. The full article can be found at http://bit.ly/23N1DiH
ALEC Ranks Oklahoma 5th for Economic Performance, 10th for Economic Outlook The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) recently released the 9th edition of Rich States, Poor States: ALECLaffer State Economic Competitiveness Index. In the 2016 edition, Oklahoma ranked as the 10th best overall state economic outlook (up from 16th in 2015) and 5th best state economic performance. Among the 15 state policy variables, Oklahoma ranked No. 1 in four categories: Property Tax Burden (per $1,000 of personal income), Estate/Inheritance Tax Levied, State Minimum Wage, Right-to-Work State. As stated in the publication, “Generally speaking, states that spend less – especially on income transfer programs, and states that tax less – particularly on productive activities such as working or investing – experience higher growth rates than states that tax and spend more.” “Since 2015, Oklahoma has significantly improved in these rankings, moving from #21 in economic outlook to #10,” said Governor Mary Fallin. “This progress shows that we are continuing to establish and promote business-friendly policies that will help us to expand and diversify our state’s economy.” Rich States, Poor States examines the latest movements in state economic growth. The data ranks the 2016 economic outlook of states using fifteen equally weighted policy variables, including various tax rates, regulatory burdens and labor policies. The ninth edition examines trends over the last few decades that have helped or hurt states’ economies.
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OSUIT Launches Interactive Web Portal to Assist Businesses Impacted by Defense Cuts We are excited to assist Oklahoma companies diversify their business and to facilitate the preservation of jobs for Oklahomans ~ Ken Boykin, DoD Program Manager, OSUIT
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology (OSUIT) announced the launch of their new interactive web portal designed to analyze economic data on Oklahoma-based companies potentially impacted by defense cutbacks. “We are excited to assist Oklahoma companies diversify their business and to facilitate the preservation of jobs for Oklahomans,” said Ken Boykin, DoD Program Manager, OSUIT. The web portal was built during Phase I of OSUIT’s Impact of the State’s Economy and Workforce (ISEW) program. ISEW Phase I was funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA). The OEA grant to OSUIT’s Economic Development and Training Center was allocated to map the supply chain of industries affected by Defense Department spending in Oklahoma with the total project budget of nearly $1 million. During this time, the grant has helped maximize opportunities for OSUIT to study the defense industry’s impact on the private sector and global communities.
The beta version of the interactive web portal, which is at http://dod-ok.chmuraecon.com/Impact, is available for anyone to use. ISEW Phase I had two primary objectives: 1) Develop an interactive web portal designed to provide details of the impact of DoD contracting in Oklahoma at the state, regional and county levels, as well as allow users to create ‘what if’ scenarios regarding the potential impact of DoD spending cuts in Oklahoma; 2) Identify, research and analyze the Oklahoma-based companies who are performing contract work for the DoD. The report can be found at http://go.osuit.edu/defense/. OSUIT has submitted a proposal for funding of ISEW Phase II. Phase II is intended to be a 24-month high impact program designed to help Oklahomabased DoD contracting companies replace declining defense revenue streams by diversifying their portfolio of business and increasing sustainability, thereby preserving jobs and replacing declining state tax revenues while diversifying the Oklahoma economy. During ISEW Phase II, OSUIT will allocate funds to assist Oklahoma-
based small and mid-sized companies that have been adversely affected by defense budget reductions. OSUIT will leverage relationships with other state entities and qualified service providers with subject matter expertise in continuous improvement, export assistance, new product development, growth and innovation, capital access for growth, strategic planning, supply chain optimization, sustainability, technology acceleration and workforce development, to help companies robustly expand into new, under-served and/or adjacent domestic markets, as well as export markets. OSUIT plans to work with as many companies as possible to successfully diversify their businesses. Ultimately, the ISEW Phase II program will create opportunities for Oklahoma companies to profitably grow, and thereby, create and retain high quality jobs for Oklahomans. For more details regarding the ISEW program, please contact Ken Boykin, DoD Program Manager, at 918-2935020, or Ken.Boykin@OKState.edu.
Aviation Center Celebrates Grand Opening at Tulsa Community College Riverside Community Campus
Jenks Public Schools Superintendent Stacey Butterfield, NORDAM CEO Meredith Siegfried Madden, and TCC President & CEO Leigh B. Goodson The new Tulsa Community College Riverside Community Campus and Aviation Center is designed to fuel the growth of Tulsa’s aeronautical industry. Tulsa Community College and the Jenks community celebrated the grand opening of the new facility at the Richard L. Jones, Jr. Airport.
enjoys with TCC because the work we are doing together enables us to answer the academic needs of students, as well as the employment requirements of today’s workforce,” Jenks Public Schools Superintendent Stacey Butterfield said. “I am thrilled TCC is making this investment for our young people.”
The facility houses the Aviation Sciences academic programs including Professional Pilot, Air Traffic Control, Aviation Management, and Aviation Logistics as well as concurrent enrollment and university-transfer general education classes.
In recent years, TCC has averaged nearly 40 graduates a year in the Aviation Sciences academic programs. The expansion of the academic program and addition of general education and concurrent courses provides an opportunity to meet the needs of the workforce industry and to prepare Tulsa area students for employment in various aviation related career fields.
“We are proud to broaden our commitment to aviation sciences education to keep pace with industry standards,” TCC President & CEO Leigh B. Goodson said. “TCC has been supportive and responsive of Tulsa’s aerospace and aviation industry community for the past 45 years.” TCC purchased the building in 2012 and began renovations in 2015. The 55,000-square-foot facility is home to TCC’s $1.4 million air traffic control classroom; a simulation lab that includes a full-motion flight training simulator and two other aviation simulators; and a fleet of six technically-advanced aircraft for students in the professional pilot program. In addition, the facility has advanced, high-tech instructional space for aviation and general education college courses. Students will be able to take a number of general education classes and this fall more than 100 Jenks High School students will be concurrently enrolled in college classes. “School leaders covet partnerships such as the one Jenks
“The Oklahoma aerospace industry generates $27 billion in industrial output or 7.5% of the state’s total economy,” NORDAM CEO Meredith Siegfried Madden said. “The state has more than 500 companies and roughly 150,000 jobs in the industry with an average salary of $64,000. The Tulsa area has this wonderful facility and this is where it starts.” GH2 Architects handled the design work and Flintco handled the construction of the TCC Riverside Community Campus and Aviation Center. The facility used several unique design elements in converting the existing airplane hangar to a modern TCC campus and aviation program headquarters. The project uses the latest fire suppression system technology that quickly dispenses foam to suppress a fire in minutes; LED lights throughout the facility; and a sustainable, energy efficient HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system.
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Rogers County Receives Block Grant Award The Oklahoma Department of Commerce’s Community Development Division announced that Rogers County is the recipient of a Community Development Block Grant Economic Development Infrastructure Financing (CDBG-EDIF) award totaling $550,000. The award will be used for the construction of a publicly owned silo and parking improvements to support the expansion of Coveris High Performance Packaging. This award allocation will help support Oklahoma’s continuing commitment to job creation and diversification of Oklahoma’s economic base. The Oklahoma Department of Commerce manages the federally-funded CDBG-EDIF program in the State. Additional funding for the project will be provided by the Tulsa Port of Catoosa Facilities Authority and 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.
Upcoming Events FRESH PAINT DAYS IN OKLAHOMA Applications Available June 1 - July 31, 2016 Is there a building in your community that is in need of a little bit of TLC? Transform it with a 2016 Fresh Paint Days grant! Selected participants will restore the EXTERIOR of a structure during the month of September with the use of paint, donated by H.I.S Coatings of Oklahoma City, a stipend to purchase supplies, funded by Public Service Company of Oklahoma and the OK Department of Environmental Quality, and of course, a lot of elbow grease from willing volunteers! Keep Oklahoma Beautiful will deliver your paint within a reasonable driving distance from your location. Applications will only be accepted online and the deadline is July 31, 2016. To find the online application, project requirements and a tentative program calendar visit: bit.ly/1G1YYcB INDEPENDENCE DAY Monday, July 4, 2016 State Offices Closed
Coveris High Performance Packaging, headquartered in Chicago, produces nearly 2,000 flexible packaging products primarily for the food, meat and dairy, healthcare and specialty markets. The Tulsa Port of Catoosa facility produces packaging products specifically directed to Coveris’ Food business customer base. Coveris is expanding with new equipment and employees, requiring the need for railroad transportation versus truck transportation to import its raw material, nylon and polyethylene resin pellets, to their facility. The benefits to Coveris include a reduction in transportation costs, reduction of the carbon footprint from each truck load delivered and utilization of an existing rail spur behind the Coveris facility. Therefore, Rogers County is requesting CDBG funds for the construction of additional parking and publiclyowned silo improvements. As a result, the company proposes to create 21 new jobs over the next 24 months with 11 of those positions being made available to low and moderate income persons. To request a CDBG-EDIF application, contact Karen Adair, Oklahom Department of Commerce, Karen.Adair@OKcommerce.gov or call (405) 815-5363.
NEW PIONEER A PRODUCT OF THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE EDITOR IN CHIEF: Kimberly Hickerson CONTRIBUTORS: Stefanie Appleton, Bryan Boone PHOTO CREDITS: Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Tulsa Community College, Pontotoc Technology Center 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 facebook.com/OKcommerce @OKcommerce OKcommerce.gov issuu.com/newpioneerOK