Enid Regional Development Alliance

PROJECT PURPOSE

To extend water/sewer infrastructure to a 400 acre, BNSF Certified, industrial site to open to the site for business development. One of 3 BNSF Certified sites in Oklahoma, with an adjacent transload facility. A new industrial grade road was built to the site 6 years ago. Water and Sewer infrastructure are needed to market the site for new business locations.

EVIDENCE

As the Department of Commerce can validate, the number of projects looking for large greenfield sites in Oklahoma has grown exponentially over the past couple of years. Sites like this one that are rail certified, over 400 acres in size, along a state highway, already zoned industrial, are rare to find. The site fits many of the parameters that companies are looking for today, but without the sewer and water infrastructure already in place, companies are hesitant to select the location. Extending water and sewer to this site may also open up additional opportunity along highway 412 for other development. The site is called the Easterly Industrial Park, and with the added water and sewer infrastructure, it will be the next in demand mega site in Oklahoma.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

This site is located in a qualified census tract and federally designated Opportunity Zone. Populations in this census tract were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic because many of them are low wage earners in the retail and hospitality industries and they were laid off, or had hours significantly reduced as a result of the impact on these industries. Extending water and sewer infrastructure to the Easterly Industrial Park will attract high paying manufacturing jobs to this area and will provide economic opportunity to this census tract.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

The City of Enid would oversee the construction of the water and sewer infrastructure to the site. Preliminary engineering plans have already begun which allow for this estimate of cost and to assure the infrastructure is sized appropriately to allow for development of these mega site. This site is already proposed in many RFPs from companies looking for large greenfield locations, but without the water and sewer it is difficult to sell. Sucess will be measured by the capital investment and jobs created by new companies locating on the property. Due to the BNSF rail infrastructure, it is likely these companies will be manufacturers and exporters, which adds to the net benefit value to the State and community.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

One-time project will not need continued funding