By Heather Turner, Deputy CEO and Executive Director of CORE, Oklahoma Commerce
Great things are possible when we work together toward an inspiring goal. When Governor Stitt asked me to join the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to serve as Deputy CEO and Executive Director of Community Outreach and Revitalization Enterprise (CORE), I was excited to apply my experience as a teacher, business owner, Chamber CEO and leader of economic development at the city level, in service of the great state of Oklahoma.
At Commerce, our mission is to “cultivate environments and relationships that foster economic growth.” That requires a plan, and more importantly, a strategy for implementation. Through targeted investment, proactive talent development and recruitment, and a commitment to being the most business-friendly state in the country, Oklahoma can compete and lead in the global economy. In Oklahoma, our strategic plan has five pillars. Responsive Partnerships, Ready Sites, Ready Workforce, Relevant Incentives and Regional Industry Targets.
Growing new jobs, increasing the average wage, and attracting private investment are three key goals for Commerce. In 2024, Commerce helped incentivize 274 businesses to open or expand in Oklahoma, leading to $7.865 billion in private capital investment in communities across the state. Commerce also directly contributed to the creation of 10,000 of the 30,000 new private sector jobs that were created with an average annual wage of $67,000 that were created. We want to continue that progress by contributing to 20-30% of the new jobs created while ensuring wages grow faster than inflation.
We understand that businesses and a free market create jobs, not the government. However, Commerce is partnering with businesses, communities and educational institutions to bolster our economy, make Oklahoma attractive to businesses choosing where to locate or expand, and enhance the workforce pipeline.
This leads to sustainable project wins. We must intentionally invest in strong relationships across our state through elected officials and community partners to ensure we have a thorough understanding of the assets, resources and desires communities have for growth. That’s our competitive advantage. The Regional Development team created and implemented the SITES Ready program, a statewide evaluation to discover industrial manufacturing sites and assess their infrastructure needs and viability. There were 108 sites submitted. Of those, 50 received desktop analysis and 15 received a further in-person site analysis. All 50 received recommendations for what is needed to attract industry.
That’s why I created “All in for Oklahoma.” Anyone can join these quarterly calls or regional on-site meetings as we learn from community stakeholders and share how Commerce can partner with communities in a variety of ways. For example, assisting with targeted investment projects in need of key infrastructure like rail, roadways and water. In 2024 alone, Commerce awarded 237 new Community Development contracts for infrastructure and service projects. Our competitive advantage is community engagement, listening to stakeholders and letting their voices be heard.
Governor Stitt wants to “bring Oklahoma to the world and the world to Oklahoma.” That means expanding international trade relations and winning global projects. A perfect example is MLB Industrial, an energy storage company in Australia. When MLB was looking to expand to the United States, CEO Nathan Leech said Oklahoma’s pro-business policies stood out. They are now partnering with a company already in Oklahoma, and Leech is moving his family to Oklahoma City in early 2025. Just last year, Oklahoma hosted 20 inbound visits, including 19 consulate representatives, two ambassadors and a Crown Prince. The Commerce International team also coordinated eight international outbound missions and assisted in six international cooperation Memorandum of Understanding agreements.
Infrastructure and workforce are probably the top driving factors for businesses making a site selection, but incentives also play an important role in this highly competitive environment. Oklahoma boasts one of the premiere incentive programs in the nation. What you may not realize is approximately 70% of our incentives are awarded to businesses already located in Oklahoma. We invest in businesses who invest in us. Our incentives are also performance based to protect taxpayers, meaning companies don’t receive a single dollar until certain performance metrics are met.
Oklahoma’s Commerce team is unmatched. Executive Director of Economic Development, Growth and Expansion (EDGE), Evan Brown, is revamping our recruiting and project management teams for a proactive approach.
Oklahoma Main Street helped facilitate $47.5 million in private reinvestment by Main Street communities, 239 building rehabilitations and 148 new businesses openings or expansions. Oklahoma Film + Music facilitated 21 films or TV productions in the state and added six new film-friendly communities. These activities resulted in an estimated $55 million spent in Oklahoma and contributed to the creation of 4,173 jobs, all while promoting Oklahoma across the world. Meanwhile, the Community and Rural Development teams are facilitating grants and equipping communities for economic growth.
I truly believe Oklahoma is the best place to live, work and start a business. We have resources like the Oklahoma Business Hub website, a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs and small business owners. We also have 32 Oklahoma-certified entrepreneurship incubators and this year we will begin our Small Business monthly workshops.
Economic development is not done in a silo. It’s not state or community; it’s state partnering with communities. I’m committed to being the most adaptive and accountable agency, responsive to the needs and input of state leadership and community partners. As long as we stay disciplined with these goals and objectives, I know that we can have a generational impact on Oklahoma’s economic future.
