The Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City

PROJECT PURPOSE

Oklahoma City is in need of additional sites that can be held and reserved as employment lands when industries are recruited to the metroplex. Large acreages for mega-employers are needed and are difficult to put together on short notice when companies are being recruited to come to Oklahoma City. Funds are needed to acquire two assembled 750-1,000 acres sites and build or improve the water and sewer infrastructure to the sites. Two mega-site locations in Oklahoma City are being sought that total between 1,500 and 2,000 acres. Both locations will serve to bring employment opportunities to the metroplex and surrounding Counties. One site is on the West side of the metroplex the other is on the East side bringing balance to employment opportunities for the 5 county area.

EVIDENCE

The Employment Land Needs Assessment and Action Plan (Attached) shows that OKC has difficulty recruiting large industrial companies due to lack of suitable sites, fragmentation and encroachment. Feedback from lost projects showed that the lack of building sites was the primary reason for not located in OKC. The study recommends that we focus on development-ready sites in high priority areas.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

These lands will serve as employment bases for the Oklahoma City Metroplex. Rural communities within the 5 county area will also be served by the jobs created with these employment lands once developed for industrial/manufacturing/distribution uses. Many of the most underserved communities lie within the NE, NW and SE quadrants of Oklahoma City. The targeted employment lands will be inside these area?s to provide jobs and tax base growth within those communities.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

The success of the project will be measured in the number of new jobs created. Many companies needing mega-sites promise to bring over 1000 new jobs, millions of dollars of new facilities/buildings and manufacturing of new items.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma