City Wise: Oklahoma City

CITY WISE: OKLAHOMA CITY

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Our diverse economy has set in motion the tremendous economic growth that is outpacing the national average...

ENERGETIC CAPITAL AEROSPACE ACE A WELCOME FOR YOUR WORKFORCE

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greaterokc.tv | 405.297.8937 | www.greateroklahomacity.com

A CITY FOR THE

SMART AND SAVVY It seems like you cannot open a national economic development publication today without a mention of Oklahoma City’s booming economy and resilience during the national downturn. Everyone from Forbes, The Business Journals, Standard and Poor’s and many more have praised Oklahoma City’s business climate and quality of life.

This is your guide to life and industry in the Sooner state’s capitol city—industry as diverse as it is steady, from cutting edge bioscience research to the leading names in aerospace and energy. You will also get a first-hand look at the factors that give Oklahoma City the winning formula in the 21st-century economy: an attractive location, workforce and quality of life.

At the end, you will also get a rundown of several tools we provide.

We are confident that the more you get to know the metro, the more you will agree with the national experts who say Oklahoma City is the perfect place to live, work and play.

OKLAHOMA CITY:

RENAISSANCE CITY In Oklahoma City, “living large” is the result of a cost of living nine percent below the U.S. average and 2000 new residents per month.

The net is a very healthy disposable income number, which our residents apply to famously high-quality, high-value housing options and money for an abundance of extras. It helps explain why OKC citizens have voted to tax themselves to drive the revitalization (and soaring private investment) that has reinvented this “Renaissance City.” But it also speaks to the depth and array of lifestyle amenities available to our residents, from world-class golf courses and clubs to sailboats, fine clothing and furnishings. It’s an equation that affords OKC citizens an existence that eludes many in America. We have the neighborhoods, shopping and entertainment assets—not to mention the unemployment rate—to prove it.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS An energetic industry......... 6 Alternative energy grows..... 9 Biotech booms................. 10 Aerospace ace................... 14

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OKC’s strategic location... 18 Home for headquarters..... 20 Working for workforce..... 22 A bold spirit lives on........ 24

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Live and play in OKC...... 26 More info and resources... 30

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DEVON TOWER DAZZLES It climbs 50 stories into the sky, a commanding shimmer of a tower. All long, lean lines and prismatic finesse, it is the most prominent facet of the new Devon World Headquarters campus. In fact, in terms of height, it’s now the single most prominent feature in the state.

Adjoining the tower is the gleaming, glass-encased rotunda — a six-story public space designed to be “filled with people,” through which Devon employees enter. Subtly egg-shaped, it is a delight to behold, outside and in. Look up and see the sky, or look across the street at the spectacular, newly renovated Myriad Gardens.

The multifaceted Devon complex was developed as a visitor destination, the work of John Pickard FAIA, of the Connecticut-based architectural firm Pickard Chilton. In a lecture delivered last fall at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, he confided that this project is a personal favorite - a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” - which is especially impressive when you see the full scope of Pickard’s work nationally and internationally, including another soaring work in Dubai.

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Ene Chesapeake

Continential Resources signs go up on their new downtown headquarters.

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ENERGETIC ENTERPRISE: OKC’S ENERGY SECTOR

As one of the nation’s most important energy industry centers and home to Devon Energy, Continental Resources and SandRidge Energy, among others, downtown OKC’s energy sector momentum in particular continues to grow following another recent relocation announcement from Enable Midstream Partners. When Devon announced plans for its new headquarters (see sidebar), vacating its previous downtown holdings, Continental seized an opportunity to move from Enid, Okla., into the newly available Class-A space. Together, Continental and Enable bring roughly 1,000 new energy employees to an already bustling commercial district. Downtown’s growth comes in addition to companies like Chesapeake Energy and the many other energy companies flourishing metrowide.

‘‘It’s a great spot to relocate near other industry leaders.’’ — Harold Hamm, CEO, Continental Resources An embodiment of the American dream, Hamm grew up on a farm south of Oklahoma City before moving to Enid after high school. There, his oil industry education began from the ground up, cleaning tank bottoms and hauling salt water. He soon struck out on his own and founded Continental in 1967, and against all odds, flourished in the notoriously fickle industry.

Today, the company is stronger than ever — but needs more room to grow.

“We’ve been on a growth cycle that doubles the company every five years for a long time,” Hamm explained. “But we set out eighteen months ago on a program that would triple the size of the company in five years.” So Continental needed space, but it also needed to attract a large, talented workforce quickly, a necessity that drove the company to OKC. “When it comes to recruiting, Oklahoma City is a very attractive place,” said Hamm.

With 18 metro-area colleges and universities, including some of the nation’s best energy programs - and a critical mass of major energy companies - it’s an obvious destination for top talent. And the continued influx of companies like Continental and Enable makes it equally clear that OKC is an attractive corporate relocation option for energy companies, too.

ENERGY 7

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Local leaders include Devon, SandRidge and Continental downtown, as well as Chesapeake Energy Corporation just a few miles north of them.

This confluence makes OKC one of America’s most important energy centers, and one of the largest hubs for natural gas.

And both Enable and Continental are excited about the quality of life their new locations offer. In and directly 8 ENERGY

around downtown, employees enjoy the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder, an inspiring urban park, many dining and urban living options, and much more under construction.

With so many reasons to run an energy business in Oklahoma City, perhaps the only question left these days is, “Who’s next?”

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY ABOUNDS IN OKC In addition to conventional energy, Oklahoma City offers it all when it comes to renewable and alternative energy.

In our low-cost, business friendly environment, it’s easy for production, manufacturing, engineering, and technical firms to produce, assemble, install and transport green energy equipment – while thriving in an environmentallyfriendly mode of operation.

As the premier gateway to the nation’s “Wind Corridor,” no other location offers our powerful, sustainable combination of technical manufacturing proficiency and workforce; alternative and conventional energy industry expertise; centralized, readilyaccessible location; earthfriendly raw ingredients to power the world today and tomorrow, like CNG, wind, and solar; and one

of the most high-value environments around for solar/wind manufacturing and logistics.

GREEN POWER AVAILABLE NOW If you’re manufacturing for Green Energy, but your power needs are creating harmful emissions and/ or taking their toll on your balance sheet, you should take a look at Oklahoma City. OG&E, Central Oklahoma’s power utility, offers 100 percent renewable windpower via Renewable Energy Credits that provide among the lowest costs in the U.S. And that makes profitability even easier to attain – while also being good to the earth.

Other green innovations, like recycling otherwise harmful methane gas from a landfill to power industrial equipment, are being implemented right now - profitably - in OKC. Contact us today and see how companies like Dell, Boldt, and AAA find it both easy and cost-effective to commit to sustainable operations in Oklahoma City.

ENERGY 9

MAKING IDEAS WORK

OKLAHOMA CITY’S ENTREPRENEURIAL BIOTECH COMMUNITY More than 27,800 employees with annual revenues of $4.1 billion. A 25 percent growth in R&D base since 2004. Total economic activity of $6.7 billion in. Greater Oklahoma City has committed to making biotech a key driver of its economy, and this high-value, growth sector of OKC’s Gross Metropolitan Product is paying

dividends both literally and figuratively as new discoveries, new drugs and new dollars continue to flow from Oklahoma City’s biotech sector.

Oklahoma City receives endless accolades for its downtown reinvention, and they’re well-deserved. But the architectural spectacles and commercial revival at the city’s center are joined by similarly praiseworthy developments just east of downtown at the Oklahoma Health Center. In recent years, some of the most significant medical advances and life-saving medicines - including the discovery of the genetic mechanism responsible for susceptibility to Alzheimer’s disease have been developed in Oklahoma City-based labs and facilities.

The Presbyterian Health Foundation (PHF) Research Park has for years garnered attention from scientific communities. Boasting more than 700,000 square feet of

OMRF’s new headquarters boasts rooftop wind turbines.

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Class-A office and wet-lab space, the park houses a dynamic mix of innovative scientific research companies, and is in the process of being acquired

by The University of Oklahoma.

Its campus atmosphere and cutting-edge workspaces have proven attractive, to say the least: over the past five years, the park added a new company every 60 days.

Nearby is the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF), one of the scientific world’s leading patent producers, with more than 600 on the books and counting. Among its many notable breakthroughs is the discovery of the enzyme believed to be responsible for Alzheimer’s disease.

In addition to OMRF, Oklahoma City is home to The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) Comprised of seven medical schools, OUHSC has benefited from PHF’s support, with more than $65 million in grants for medical research. In turn, the 30 institutions on its campus employ more than 15,000 people with a combined general revenue greater than $3.5 billion per year. And that’s only the beginning: in the past 15 years, OUHSC’s funding from the National Institutes of Health has leaped significantly from $6 million to $53 million.

OUHSC has more than doubled its research space in the past ten years, and is in the finishing stages of $350 million in capital improvements.

But facilities alone aren’t the reason biotech startups are looking at Oklahoma City. A strong, active investment community has emerged along with the research complex, providing inventive companies crucial support. This confluence is critical for scientific development, a reality that can often leave great ideas on the drawing table.

More and more, OKC offers evidence that it has achieved this essential unity.

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The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts more than 28 percent growth in the U.S. biotech industry by 2014, and Oklahoma City is positioned as a major player in facilitating that growth. In fact, the region’s employment in biotech grew 17.8 percent between 2001 and 2008, outpacing national growth.

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The most recent example is Selexys Pharmaceuticals, a startup whose lead compound, SelG1 — which treats sickle cell disease — recently completing Phase I trials.

The hurdles to get even this far are immense: only one of every 1,000 compounds entering the FDA’s pre-clinical testing phase advance to Phase I testing.

Selexys’ accomplishment is the latest sign of OKC’s maturation as a research community. The firm raised roughly $6 million from local investments, including $1 million from the Oklahoma Seed Capital Fund and the Oklahoma Life Science Fund, and $5 million from angel investors, the majority of whom are private area physicians. Another $9 million came from local and state grants, including the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology.

Selexys is just the latest example of OKC’s innovative biotech startups producing results. Altheus Therapeutics, also based at the PHF, recently announced its compound Zoenasa successfully completed Phase 1 testing. Cassion Biotech, based on discoveries made at the adjacent OUHSC, entered into a licensing agreement with industry giant Novo Nordisk for its breakthrough heprosan-based drug delivery system.

These recent success stories attest to the maturation of an entire community, from innovative scientific minds to motivated, capital-rich investors and first-rate facilities.

With this structure in place, OKC will remain at the forefront of biotech research and industry for years to come.

BIOTECH 13

OKC AEROSPACEIT’S OUR BUSINESS In Oklahoma City, aerospace is not an upstart industry or a hope for the future. Aviation is in our DNA. Since Wiley Post, a native Oklahoman, made history with the first solo flight around the world in 1933, Oklahoma has been on the cutting edge of aviation.

The numbers speak for themselves: with more than 300 public- and private-sector aviation and aerospace firms in OKC, the industry directly or indirectly supports more than 85,400 workers and the production of $7.3 billion in goods and services. On a state level, aviation is Oklahoma’s No. 1 foreign export and accounts for a

staggering 10 percent of our state’s economy. Oklahoma is one of the top 10 states in traditional aerospace employment.

The story of aerospace in Oklahoma City is more than raw numbers and size. The story of aerospace in Oklahoma City is also about diversity.

The biggest names in aerospace have operations in Oklahoma City including Boeing Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Lockheed Martin Aircraft, Northrop Grumman, General Electric Aviation and AAR Aircraft

Oklahoma is one of the top 10 states in traditional aerospace employment.

e Force Bas Tinker Air

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OKLAHOMA CITY’S AERO INDUSTRY LEADERS Services. Oklahoma City is also home to Will Rogers World Airport and the Mike Monroney FAA Center, the principal source of all FAA training and a nerve center for the nation’s air transportation system.

More and more aviation companies are starting to see the advantage Oklahoma City can give their company. In fact, over the past two years Boeing Aerospace has

announced they will relocate more than 1,450 jobs from around the country to Oklahoma City and build a new $40 million complex.

The heart of aerospace in the region is Tinker Air Force Base and the men and women who complete the missions assigned to the base. Tinker is the largest single-site employer in the state and contributes more than $3 billion to the local economy annually.

• FAA Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center • Northrop Grumman • Pratt & Whitney • Boeing • Jet Service Enterprises • ARINC • AAR Corp.

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Since 1941, when the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber spearheaded the donation of the first 1,440 acres for the base, Tinker and Oklahoma City have supported each other.

In recent years, several new state of-the-art facilities have come to fruition, demonstrating once again the incredible partnership among officials, citizens and corporations statewide.

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The 2.5-million-square-foot Tinker Aerospace Complex is a former General Motors plant that now houses some of the 76th Maintenance Wing operations and other Department of Defense (DOD) workloads. The complex, considered the most advanced aviation and aerospace manufacturing and production facility in the world, is the result of a $54-million bond issue passed by voters and more than $50 million in renovations by the Air Force. Best of all, space in the Tinker Aerospace Complex is available to private companies working on DOD projects, improving efficiency and creating synergy with their public partners.

The hub of Oklahoma City’s aviation industry is Will Rogers World Airport – with approximately 10,000 employees and 67 tenants, including the Federal Transfer Center, ARINC, Metro Tech Aviation Career Center and Southwest Airlines Reservation Center – as well as Oklahoma City’s Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ).

A recent $110-million renovation nearly doubled the size of the terminal, expanding and updating amenities to make traveling as effortless and enjoyable as possible for the 3.7 million passengers it serves every year.

Will Rogers World Airport Whether it is Tinker Air Force Base, the state’s largest single-site employer, or Pro-Fab, an emerging company that specializes in producing complex and difficult-tomachine aerospace parts, Oklahoma City’s aerospace sector is as varied as it is large. In Oklahoma City, aviation is our business.

RAISING A WORKFORCE Workforce is what ultimately drives company prosperity, innovation and profitability. With a variety of available educational institutions and training programs, workers in Oklahoma City have the skills necessary to make aerospace operations a success.

Strong partnerships between education and training facilities have helped build and prepare a highly proficient workforce. Both the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University offer a wide range of diverse degree programs in aviation, while Oklahoma City’s Metro Technology Centers’ acclaimed Aviation Career Campus offers some of the best aviation training on the CareerTech level in the country.

In addition, Oklahoma’s Aerospace Engineer Workforce tax credit benefits companies who hire graduates of Oklahoma institutions, creating a winwin for industry and workforce.

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A STRATEGIC SITUATION: OKC’S LOCATION ADVANTAGE

If a low-cost business environment and an educated, talented and motivated workforce are central to your business, Oklahoma City’s central location might just be the ideal choice. Equally benefiting both coasts, we are quite literally the crossroads of the U.S., with our capital city sitting at the heart of three major national highways:

• I-35 North-South NAFTA corridor

• I-40 East-West

• I-44 Northeast-Southwest Our diverse economy has set in motion the tremendous economic growth that is outpacing the national average.

In addition to strong energy and agriculture sectors, Oklahoma City’s Gross Metropolitan Product is strong in trade, transportation and utilities, professional and business services, government, manufacturing, financial activities, education and health services, and more. It’s a business climate that will allow your business to thrive – now and well into the future.

feasible, including the Oklahoma Site Ready Program.

Established in 2006 by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, and among the first of its kind in the nation, the Site Ready Program provides site selectors with assurance that certified sites are available for immediate sale or lease, ready to build on with all utilities in place, prepermitted and planned, and clear of regulatory issues.

Our keystone incentives include our one-of-a-kind local Strategic Investment Program (SIP), offering incentives to companies who sell their goods and services outside the metro area, based on the number of new jobs created; and the state of Oklahoma’s premier Quality Jobs Program, providing employers with quarterly cash payments of up to five percent of new taxable payroll for up to 10 years. The state also LEGEND

Our 18 public and private colleges and universities, as well as our nationally acclaimed career and technology training system, ensure a constantly growing and developing workforce that is ready to work – and with enrollment exceeding 125,725 each year, the influx of available workers is as varied and full of promise as the Oklahoma City economy.

Corporations of all sizes are discovering Oklahoma City and taking advantage of the many benefits of relocating, expanding or developing here. In addition to the convenient central location, Oklahoma City offers many advantages that make a move more 18 LOCATION

Being centrally located in the United States, Oklahoma has equal access to markets in Canada and Mexico.

500 miles 1000 miles 1500 miles

offers the 21st Century Quality Jobs Program, which allows companies to potentially double the benefit they receive from the original Quality Jobs Program. Other innovative business resources include our award-winning online GIS-based Economic Development Information System application (www.OKCEDIS.com), which offers immediate access to all information relevant to expansions and relocations.

training and resources to qualifying new and expanding Oklahoma companies, so that a fully prepared and qualified workforce is in place from day one. This program is a service of Oklahoma’s Department of Career and Technology Education that provides seamless educational systems for all Oklahomans.

When it comes to profitability, Oklahoma City’s business is making yours successful.

Oklahoma is home to the nationally-recognized Training for Industry Program (TIP), providing free customized

GREATER OKC:

674,627 COLLEGE STUDENTS:

POPULATION: 1.46 million

WORKFORCE:

QUICK FACTS

10-COUNTY REGION

125,770

COST OF LIVING INDEX:

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OKC - THE HOME OF HEADQUARTERS Some of the most wellrespected corporations in the nation call Oklahoma City home. Many companies were born here, while others simply do business here, but all have had success in Oklahoma City.

Hobby Lobby started in 1972 as an unassuming 300-square-foot arts and crafts store in OKC. Today it’s a 479-location, 40-state powerhouse. Especially popular along the west coast, it serves the fervent

MAJOR CORPORATIONS IN OKLAHOMA CITY American Fidelity Assurance (HQ) AT&T The Boeing Company Braum’s Ice Cream and Dairy Stores (HQ) Chesapeake Energy (HQ) CMI Terex Continental Resources (HQ) Dell Devon Energy (HQ) Express Employment Professionals (HQ) Farmers Insurance Group Hobby Lobby (HQ) Integris Health (HQ) Love’s Travel Stops (HQ) Paycom (HQ) QuadGraphics SandRidge Energy (HQ) Sonic Corporation (HQ) UPS 20 HOME FOR HEADQUARTERS

lifestyle trend of crafting and home decorating and provides a complete range of supplies for hobbies and holidays. The company is now headquartered in a 3.4-million-square-foot manufacturing, distribution and office complex in OKC. Sonic Drive-In is another grassroots retail success story. The billion-dollar corporation began with a single location in the metro area, but caught on right away. It was one-of-a-kind, specializing in burgers, shakes and fast service. Even with today’s 3,500 restaurants, it’s still one of the fastest-growing quick-service restaurants and is headquartered in OKC’s bustling Bricktown entertainment district, where tourists can grab a bite - from breakfast to burgers to burritos and choose from 398,929 drink combinations at the full-service Sonic next door.

Love’s Travel Stops brought retail to the highway for the first time in 1972 by combining convenience stores with self-service gasoline, sparking an industry-wide revolution. The popular road trip rest stop notably moved from its 2000 debut at No. 446 on Forbes’ list of largest private companies to No. 18 in 2010. Today, Love’s employs approximately 8,000 people in 39 states, with annual sales exceeding $17 billion.

Express Employment Professionals provides employment solutions for both business and job seekers, as well as a wealth of HR solutions for businesses of all sizes. Express began in 1983 and was ranked among the top staffing firms in the country by the end of the, 80s. Express passed the $1 billion revenue mark in 1999, and today has nearly 600 franchise locations around the world.

For about 60 years, Boeing has had a strong presence in Oklahoma City, primarily supporting activities at Tinker

Western Avenue a nd Air Force Base. Still, it was a welcome surprise when Boeing announced they would relocate more than 1,450 jobs from around the country to Oklahoma City and build a new $40 million complex.

Started in 1998, Paycom was the world’s first 100 percent online payroll provider, and is today the largest and fastest-growing provider of online payroll and HR technology in the U.S. Paycom currently boasts customers in all 50 states and operates 23 offices around the country from their still-expanding Oklahoma City headquarters.

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OKC BUSINESS BY THE NUMBERS 1,282,248 - MSA Population 622.5 - Square Miles 593,550 - Quality Workers 18 - College and Universities 125,770- College Students

Whether it’s retail, energy, advanced manufacturing, services, aerospace, logistics or biotech, Oklahoma City makes a great place to base your operations.

HOME FOR HEADQUARTERS 21

One of the biggest barriers companies face is finding the right workforce for their field. A quality workforce doesn’t just happen. In Oklahoma City, our leaders understand that you have to lay quality groundwork – and they’re willing to make the investment it takes to make good people great.

WORKING TOGETH

CREATING A FOUNDATION FOR OUR FUTUR

Corporations in Oklahoma City are driven by the same sense of coming together for the benefit of everyone – company leaders not only support the community, they get involved. As just one example, Oklahoma City citizens and leaders voted overwhelmingly to put into place a 10-year, nearly $700-million educational initiative – MAPS for Kids – allocating funds for improvements to suburban schools, as well as for the replacement or renovation of every school within the urban district. This effort came on the heels of a citizenapproved $356-million renovation called Metropolitan Area Projects, known locally as

City has Oklahoma as een rated recently b best cities one of the students for college e best f th and one o . millennials places for 22 WORKFORCE

MAPS. MAPS constructed nine cultural, recreational and educational projects, and spurred an additional $3 billion in private investments. And MAPS 3, consisting of eight new capital projects totaling $777 million, including a downtown streetcar system, convention center, whitewater rafting facility and more, was passed by voters in December 2009. MAPS now serves as a model for other cities and is on record as the nation’s largest-ever downtown revitalization effort financed with a voter-approved sales tax.

In almost every corner of the region, you will find unique ways our 125,000 college students, attending 18 colleges and universities, are being taught to contribute to an ever-changing economy. One example is the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma. Better known as the “School of Rock”, the ACM@UCO is a program unlike any other in America.

Industry veterans - from local producers to international megastars - now help talented students earn bachelors degrees in performance, production and music business. Housed in a historical building in Oklahoma City’s popular Bricktown entertainment district, ACM@UCO is more than just a music school, it’s a worldwide music connection for music and non-music majors alike.

The program is a veritable living laboratory for students through which students are taught by

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accomplished musicians, production experts and music business professionals — people who have “been there, done that.” Students also receive master class instruction from some of today’s stars in the worlds of rock, pop, gospel and country music.

However, it takes more than educating students to create a quality workforce. What good is education if students take those skills to other states? That is why retaining our college graduates has been a top priority in the region.

It all starts with creating a community that not only attracts talented college graduates but helps them thrive.

A bevy of recent accolades and studies show that is exactly what is happening in Oklahoma City.

Moving.com ranked OKC No. 6 on its Best Cities for Millennials list due to our low unemployment, affordable housing, good nightlife and university presence. Forbes put us at No. 9 on its rank of best cities

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for college grads. Forbes and New Geography also named us a Top 20 Boom Town.

A recent Chamber survey indicates that more than 85 percent of our graduates intend to stay in Oklahoma City, and a noted “boomerang effect” has shown that some of our young people who initially moved to other markets after college are flocking to return. In fact, a recent Advertising Age analysis showed Oklahoma ranks fifth for increase in number of residents aged 25-44 since 2000.

Relationships – at every level – are a large part of what makes Oklahoma City the unique city that it is. Relationships between city leaders and citizens.

Relationships between business leaders and the people with whom they live and work. The people of Oklahoma City are practical, down-to-earth, hard-working … and make quality, reliable employees.

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A STARTUP CITY:

ROOTS OF OUR BOLD SPIRIT Leave it to a city famously “born in a day” with the Land Run of 1889 to produce a daring kind of worldview. By nightfall, a tent city of 10,000 had sprung up, and OKC was up and running. It was the ultimate startup: people with big dreams, digging in to make things happen.

COURAGEOUS CATALYST: MAPS (Metropolitan Area Projects) Today you’ll see the same kind of “anything is possible” spirit in voters who have repeatedly chosen to tax themselves to fund the series of transformative projects called MAPS, a temporary one-cent sales tax. Before the first MAPS projects were completed, they’d breathed new life into a city hit hard by the 1980s oil bust, and hit again by the 1995 Murrah Building bombing.

Surviving both proved our mettle as citizens and souls who won’t settle for defeat. There’s a certain steel in our nature. For evidence, visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial. No words do it justice.

MAPS 2 (aka MAPS for Kids) followed with massive upgrades for our school system, recognizing that urban revival requires good schools. The $700 million program has built more than 70 new and renovated schools, and

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A COURAGEOUS SPIRIT

extends to technology projects, funding for 23 other public school districts, and a shiny new fleet of cleanburning natural gas (CNG) school buses.

Voters even approved funding upgrades to bring our arena up to NBA standards, and upgrades continue today. Plus, an exciting portfolio of MAPS 3 projects will be complete in the next 15 years—a 70-acre central park, a downtown streetcar system, new convention center, whitewater rafting facility, and more.

OKC’s exuberant renaissance helped put a highstakes mission in motion to move the NBA’s Seattle Supersonics to OKC. The shot OKC investors were willing to take secured and shortly introduced the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Led by superstars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, this young team is a league-wide phenom en route to a championship. Meanwhile, Thunder fans are loud, proud and present: most games are sold out and merchandise sales are among the best in the league.

FLYING

HIG

H Inspired by the flight o f the Scisso Flycatcher, rtail Oklahoma ’s lyrical sta SkyDance te bird, the Bridge is a powerful re Oklahoma minder tha City is on t the rise.

Just to the south of Chesapeake Energy arena, the Oklahoma Stretching River and the iconic boathouses along this new international across the rowing racecourse are another testament to the potent new 1 0 -l a ne I-40, combination of MAPS - which put water in a long-dry th e structure riverbed - and private investments that made it so much h a s a wingspa more than a river. It was bold to build a 21st century vision n o f 3 0 fe et, and of rowing - one that broke with 200 years of august East re a c h e s nearly Coast rowing tradition - in a city certainly not known for 1 8 st ories tall. its water. But The New York Times soon called our river ornamente Th e frame is d with stain “a mecca for elite water sports” and the U.S. Olympic less steel “fe which are athers,” a striking si Committee made it an official U.S. Olympic training site ght during become m the day an ajestically a for rowing and kayak. The already epic achievements here d live when li t. are being joined by new ones - all triggered by turning Though th e SkyDanc a so-called “ditch” that required mowing into a shining e Bridge is bold addit a unique a ion to the symbol of worldwide rowing. In Oklahoma City, we nd d o w ntown sky goes beyon li n e , it d being a m make the impossible possible and success the norm. emorable la motorists o n d m ark for n I-40.

See greaterokc.tv for more and learn how OKC can increase your ability for boldness - as well as good It will also link pedest living. rians and b the downto icyclists in wn core wit h attractio Oklahoma ns on the Riverfront.

This “Core program is to Shore” a plan to sp u r re d the area so evelopmen uth of dow t of n to w n and conne downtown ct ’s core with the shores Oklahoma of the River.

The bridge reflects a c ommitmen goal of walk t to the ability by c re a ti ng a conne between tw ction o vibrant a re a s. In the fu this magnifi ture, cent symbo l of the city will be join ’s progress ed by retail a n d re developme sidential nts, a conv e n ti o n center and acre centra l park. a 70-

A COURAGEOUS SPIRIT 25

People outside Oklahoma may be quick to tell you that we’re best known for our country-western roots. And while we proudly tip our hats to the history that brought us to today, we are equally proud of the artsy, culturally savvy, cosmopolitan vibe that is finding its way into every corner of our city.

AN ARTFUL, LEISURELY LOCATION Oklahoma Citians are never short on things to do. Arts, culture and entertainment opportunities abound in a multitude of venues downtown as well as all over the city. And whether your interests lie outside, inside, on land or in the water, our sports and leisure scene is no trivial matter.

Oklahoma City has long been known as a place that takes its sports seriously, but that passion rose to another level when the NBA and the

Thunder came to town in 2008. Led by three-time NBA scoring champ Kevin Durant and fellow Olympians Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka, the Thunder have taken the NBA by storm.

In only their fourth season in OKC, the Thunder made the NBA Finals. Even though the Thunder came up just short, the world got to see the passion that resides in Oklahoma City for the Thunder when more than 16.9 million people watched each game of the finals in more than 200 countries.

The NBA is not the only game in town, as Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma River have become one of the top water sports centers in the world.

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The Oklahoma River is attracting national attention as a world-class sports venue – and was selected to host the 2008 U.S. Olympic team trials for Sprint Canoe/Kayak. USA Canoe/ Kayak recently moved its national headquarters to Oklahoma City, and USRowing located a new elitelevel training center for current and future Olympians here at the Devon Boathouse following the designation of the Oklahoma River as an official s n rde Olympic/Paralympic Training Site. yriad Ga

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Outdoor recreation buffs will be delighted to learn about the metro’s many lakes, as well as dozens within an hour’s drive. But Lake Hefner is a favorite – a true outdoor jewel located in the northwest part of town.

Here, sailboats share the water with wind surfers and kiteboarders, whose aerial acrobatics captivate onlookers.

The 2,500-acre lake’s perimeter boasts nine miles of paved walking, jogging and bicycling paths. The 12-footwide asphalt paths trace the entire lake, and provide those who are into running or cycling an excellent venue to train for their next event. Lake Hefner also boasts outstanding boating and sailing, and serves as home to the Oklahoma City Boat Club, which hosts a regular schedule of weekend sailboat races.

Oklahoma Citians are also passionate about running.

One race dear to most Oklahomans’ hearts is the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon.

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The race, which annually hosts about 2,500 marathon participants and another 7,000-plus in the corresponding half-marathon, is memorable because it takes participants through some of the most beautiful parts of Oklahoma City.

Yet the race’s purpose is equally memorable. The Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon is run as a tribute to the victims, family members and survivors of the 1995 Murrah Building bombing, and proceeds go to the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum.

Experiencing outdoor life in Oklahoma City wouldn’t be complete without visiting the many gardens and parks throughout the city, the crown jewel being downtown’s Myriad Botanical Gardens.

The Gardens recently underwent a spectacular multimillion dollar reinvention that places it among the nation’s finest urban parks. The park’s 17 acres are a

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the il” at a r T e d of th y an d o n b m E w “ useu l Co a M n e o i g a Nat Herit n r e t Wes welcome retreat for thousands of employees working downtown, as well as a must-see attraction for tourists.

With a tropical conservatory that harbors exotic plants and wildlife from all over the world, a floating amphitheater, a range of children’s attractions and more, Oklahoma City also offers an abundance of options for those who love the arts and creativity.

Collaborative community support has inspired the founding of the Oklahoma Creativity Project – a formal organization that will empower the visionaries in our community to lead us toward becoming a truly creative state.

That energy has set into motion a chain reaction, not just within city limits, but also on a worldwide scale. In 2010, Oklahoma City hosted the prestigious Creativity World Forum, bringing together people from all over the world to discuss integrating creativity within the 28 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The Okl aho Art ma feat City ure sC hihu Museu mo ly G f lass . education and business cultures and simply encouraging creativity in general. Oklahoma is the only U.S. state currently recognized as a “District of Creativity.”

On a local scale, Oklahoma City’s Bricktown entertainment district is the home of the Academy of Contemporary Music – the first authorized U.S. version of Britain’s prestigious Academy of Contemporary Music. At the “School of Rock,” bachelors degrees are offered in performance, production and music business.

Newcomers and visitors are generally surprised to find world-class collections, performances and sophisticated sensibilities in OKC. A large but cohesive community is engaged in the arts and excited about the quality and diversity of cultural experiences bubbling up all around. You hear the word

“passion” when OKC’s own describe our vibrant cultural scene.

Artistic talent is plentiful in a city with 18 colleges and universities. From dancers to graphic designers, there’s a pool of talent to draw on.

The “Creative Class” is at home here.

The Oklahoma City Museum of Art opened in 2002 and serves more than125,000 visitors annually from all 50 states and more than 30 foreign countries, hosting special exhibitions from throughout the world.

The museum’s collection covers five centuries, with strengths in American and European art of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and includes a comprehensive collection of glass sculpture

by Dale Chihuly.

The granddaddy of world-class art institutions in Greater OKC is the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Host of the prestigious annual Prix de West, its collection of art and artifacts is unrivaled. The museum itself is grand and its romance with the West is contagious.

The Festival of the Arts is the rite of spring, attracting artists from around the country and rated one of the top 20 arts festivals in the U.S. Held adjacent to and spilling into Myriad Botanical Gardens, the festival has given the Gardens an artistic soul, seen in its signature sculptures and live performance venues.

The Civic Center Music Hall is a beautifully restored Art Deco jewel. The state-of-the-art performing arts center seats 2,500, offering balconies, box seats and suites, extraordinary acoustics and a hydraulic orchestra pit.

The Philharmonic, Oklahoma City Ballet, Lyric Theatre, Canterbury Choral Society and others perform here.

The Oklahoma City Philharmonic hosts an annual season of exceptional music and diverse programs headlined by renowned talent. The Phil also rewards OKC with signature holiday concerts, innovative programming for children, and classes for adults, children and families.

With an NBA team ratcheting up the level of quality sports, a growing and thriving entertainment district, a climate that welcomes a broad variety of outdoor activities with its four distinct seasons, family-friendly lifestyle and ever-expanding cultural and artistic opportunities, Oklahoma City is a great place to live, work … and play.

Chief Executive Officer of USA Canoe/Kayak and Olympic Gold Medalist Joe Jacobi said, “With the momentum taking place at the Oklahoma River...

Oklahoma City is the ideal location for the epicenter of our efforts to grow paddlesports.”

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WWW.GREATEROKLAHOMACITY.COM GreaterOklahomaCity.com is your one-stop location for everything on the Oklahoma City economy, from in-depth descriptions of state and city incentives to a wealth of regional economic date. The website also has a real-time property locater and interactive maps that allow you to see what parts of the city best fit your business needs.

ABETTERLIFEOKC.COM Through www.ABetterLifeOKC.com, you can discover more about Oklahoma City, including the region’s quality of life, housing, climate and more.

The site also is home to “The Better Life,” a blog 30 INFO & RESOURCES

and email newsletter that helps Oklahoma City’s newest citizens get involved and engaged in the community. Each week, the blog covers a variety of topics, from retail and events to community organizations and recreation.

GREATEROKC.TV A dynamic online channel, GreaterOKC.tv, features more than 1,000 videos that highlight every aspect of living, working and playing in Greater Oklahoma City. The easy to navigate website offers a variety of different categories such as commerce, education, climate or the arts. You can also easily search for any topic.

VELOCITY VeloCity is a fully-interactive, digital magazine that brings the story of Oklahoma City to life. This interactive publication, which can be viewed at www.velocityokc.com highlights the city’s diversity, accolades, recreation options, business climate, lifestyle amenities and more.

ACCOLADES The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber can brag about our city all day (and we do), but nothing beats getting praise and recognition from unbiased, third-parties.

The Chamber keeps track of all the great accolades Oklahoma City receives at www.OKCChamber.com/ accolades.

If you’d like to hear more about our dynamic city and how your project could benefit from locating here, please don’t hesitate to contact us at (405) 297-8937. You can also follow us on Twitter @GreaterOKC or follow us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GreaterOKC.

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