Oklahoma City Economic Development

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Continue to to Choose OKC

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DELIVERING OPPORTUNITY AND PROVIDING PROSPERITY

about the OKC Thunder’s 6-foot, 3-inch Russell Westbrook, the 6-foot, 9-inch Kevin Durant, or even the new 850-foot Devon Energy Center gracing Oklahoma City’s skyline. But those aren’t the only tales OKC has to tell these days.

Oklahoma City also boasts low unemployment, affordability and great quality-of-life amenities.

It is one thing to brag about what makes our community attractive to employees and businesses from all over the world, but the proof is in the results—and Oklahoma City has seen them. A flurry of business expansions and relocations has grabbed the headlines recently in Oklahoma City.

The following companies have seen the competitive advantage Oklahoma City gives their operations: • With two different announcements, Boeing is in the midst of moving more than 1,000 jobs to their OKC facilities.

• Energy company Continental Resources relocated its headquarters to downtown Oklahoma City. The company has 700 employees and plans to triple that number in the next three years.

• Centek Industries located a new manufacturing facility near Will Rogers World Airport. This facility will mark Centek’s entry into the U.S. The facility will

continue to add employees as they ramp up to approximately 100 new jobs in Oklahoma City.

• Grocery Supply Acquisition Corp., a subsidiary of Nash Finch, has opened two food distribution warehouses in south Oklahoma City. The move has created 140 new jobs.

• FMC Technologies is moving a plant from Houston to Oklahoma City that will result in more than 70 jobs for the city.

• Malarkey Roofing opened a new-to-market plant in summer 2012. Malarkey spent $30 million on the facility and brought 60 jobs to the city.

• Trinity Tank Car Inc., is expanding to add more than 330 employees to their Oklahoma City operations.

Relocations and expansions like these help illustrate that the economy in Oklahoma City is thriving, while other cities try to find their footing during the recession. In fact, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Oklahoma City is one of only 13 metros who have regained jobs lost during the recession. Those aren’t tall tales, just facts. Find out for yourself the advantage Oklahoma City can give your company. <OKC>

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A THUNDEROUS SUCCESS

der n u h the T f o the e s s i r r o r The t mir a . h t e OKC f o is on ance s s i a ren

FANTASY FINALS

NBA basketball hasn’t been in Oklahoma City long, but the Thunder has already played on the sport’s most significant level, the NBA Finals. Playing on the biggest stage puts Oklahoma City in the spotlight worldwide, as millions have watched the Thunder play in more than 200 countries.

To say the rise of the Oklahoma City Thunder was meteoric would be an understatement. The Thunder arrived in the metro area and won a comparatively meager 23 games in their inaugural season. Three years later, the squad, led by three-time scoring champ Kevin Durant and All-NBA performer Russell Westbrook, was playing on the world stage for basketball’s biggest prize.

Like the city they call home, the growth

RIDE THIS CRANE As shots of downtown Oklahoma City were shown across the world during the NBA Finals, one common theme emerged… construction. and success of the Thunder mirrors the renaissance of Oklahoma City.

Team work and hard work have become synonymous with the Thunder. The same can be said for the city they represent. In 1993, the citizens and community leaders decided it was time to reinvent the city and MAPS (Metropolitan Area Projects) was born. The citizens voted to tax themselves $350 million to improve their city through a series of capital improvement projects. MAPS has become the goldstandard of teamwork and public/private partnerships in the community development world. After two more successive “YES” votes for additional MAPS programs, private investment has outweighed public funding ($3.1 billion vs. $2 billion, respectively).

MAPS built the arena the Thunder now call home, filled a river with water in the heart of downtown where Olympic athletes now train and helped renovate every school in the city. The success of MAPS gave the community a confidence that through hard work and togetherness, dreaming big and succeeding were possible. And with MAPS 3 construction just beginning (see story on page 4), even more is on the horizon.

Vote by vote, brick by brick the people of Oklahoma City have rebuilt their community while taking no shortcuts. Hand in hand the city has grown with the Thunder to grab headlines and show where they belong. And just like for the Thunder, for Oklahoma City as a whole, the best is yet to come. <OKC>C>

The most noticeable addition to downtown is the recently opened Devon Tower. The 52-story skyscraper is more than a corporate headquarters, featuring amenities open to the public. The amenities include several new restaurants and the Devon Auditorium.

Through a TIF, district the Devon Tower construction also funded Project 180, providing a complete makeover of streets, sidewalks and streetscapes over 180 acres of downtown, as well as the complete, $10.5-million renovation of the Myriad Gardens. The 17-acre park was reopened in the fall of 2011 with a new 600-seat floating amphitheater, reflecting pool/ice rink, children’s lawn maze and grand event lawn.

Not to be outdone, SandRidge Energy is also currently undergoing $100 million in renovations for their downtown headquarters.

Organizations like i2E and OKC’s low business costs and resources give entrepreneurs an advantage in Oklahoma City.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS IN OUR DNA

The history of Oklahoma City is a story unlike any other.

In a single day, the city was formed with a sharp report of the starter’s pistol and a run on land. Many of its first citizens were mavericks and risk takers who came to the land with nothing more than an idea. That entrepreneurial spirit has not only survived, but is now thriving in modern day OKC. Oklahoma City has a business climate where innovation is fostered and rewarded. The metro area routinely has the lowest unemployment rate in the country and was ranked America’s “Most Affordable City” by Forbes. Oklahoma City offers jobs and affordability, factors paramount to successful entrepreneurship.

Don’t take our word for it. Leading national publications and organizations have also recognized Oklahoma City as a place for innovation. Renowned business forecaster Kiplinger named OKC one of its “10 Great Cities for Starting a Business,” and the Kauffman Foundation named Oklahoma City the No. 1 “Best Place to Start a Business.” And in OKC, many tools are available to help entrepreneurs through the rigors of launching their own business. i2E is a non-profit organization whose focus is working directly with entrepreneurs to launch and grow their business. i2E provides advice, capital and development to entrepreneurs and the results have been impressive. In FY 2011, i2E companies reported a total of 43 new jobs created (with an average annual salary of $63,107), with $6 million in total annual revenues and $5.6 million in total annual payroll.

At noon on April 22, 1889, enterprising settlers rushed in to claim their land in what is now Greater Oklahoma City.

working experience that allows hands-on training in emerging companies.

BUILDING BUSINESS SINCE DAY ONE

Some of the students even return to work for the companies after graduation.

On the state level, i2E, with funds from the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST), run the Technology Business Finance Program. This proof-of-concept fund helps fill financing gaps for Oklahoma’s technology sector.

One of the newest additions to Oklahoma City is the VentureSpur accelerator. This program aims to provide emerging entrepreneurs and promising ventures with quality mentors, seed funding, a 12-week accelerator program, free office space and range of discounted services. The program ends with a Demo Day, where the participants demonstrate their product to a crowd of entrepreneurs, angel investors and venture capitalists.

An entrepreneurial spirit that has consumed the city since its founding, a business climate that competes with any in the country, and several organizations dedicated to making sure One of i2E’s most successful initiatives is i2E Fellows. The innovation thrives in our community make Oklahoma City program links graduate and advanced-undergraduate students the perfect place to start your next business. <OKC> with advanced-technology startups, providing a unique

MAPS 3 CONSTRUCTION BUILDING BEGINS Oklahoma City is a

community where its citizens dream big and the results are even bigger. A metro where the people and business community work tirelessly to build a city we are all proud of.

The most important building block was laid in 1993 with the passage of the Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS). The initiative collected more than $309 million dollars and was used to build a new baseball park, downtown canal, multi-use arena, renovate the Civic Center Music Hall, Cox Convention Center and much more. To date, that initial $300 million investment has led to more than $5 billion in investment in our city.

The original MAPS was such a success, the citizens voted to extend the tax to improve and renovate every school in Oklahoma City.

MAPS is a brand that has come to represent the renaissance and can-do spirit of Oklahoma City. In December of 2009 the voters approved the third iteration of MAPS and we are starting to see those plans come to fruition.

• A total of $132 million has been budgeted for a downtown

ON TRACK

public park. The 70-acre park will be a place the community can gather for picnics, exercise, and attend concerts. The project is still in the planning stages with several meetings for public input slated for the coming months.

• A modern streetcar/transit system will help connect downtown.

The $128-million dollar investment has a recommend route and evaluation of the route is ongoing.

• The biggest investment of MAPS 3 comes in the form of a new downtown convention center. The facility will help Oklahoma City compete for larger conventions that will bring additional revenue into the community. The convention center will cost $252 million and a site has been submitted by the subcommittee. The site is being appraised and studied to see how to integrate the convention center with the park and street car system.

• One of the biggest successes of the original MAPS, the Oklahoma River (now an official Olympic training site), will now see $57 million in improvements in the form of spectator and user amenities as well as a whitewater facility. Lighting

construction has begun to allow night racing, while study on the windscreens has been completed. S20 Design, the same firm that designed the course for the 2012 Olympics in London, has been selected to design the whitewater facility.

• Oklahoma City’s Fairgrounds will see more than $58 million to replace aging public buildings and continue to bring in shows and equine events important to OKC’s visitor economy.

Plans for phase I have been approved and construction will begin in the first quarter of 2013.

• About 32 miles of biking, walking and running trails will be constructed throughout the community. The $39-million dollar project is slated to begin construction this year.

• The city will also spend $9 million to create a more walkable city with 70 miles of new sidewalks. Construction on this project will begin this year.

• A study is currently underway on the best locations for a series of state-of-the-art senior health and wellness centers. The total investment in this project will be $52 million. <OKC>

OKLAHOMA CITY’S TIME IS NOW

Roy Williams President & CEO Greater OKC Chamber

As I talk to my friends and peers around the country, one word continues to come up: how? As in “How is Oklahoma City beating the national recession?” While the rest of the country tries to find new foundations, Oklahoma City continues to not only boast the lowest unemployment rate for any large

metro, we continue to see our existing companies expand and new companies relocate to our market. As with most things in Economic Development, there is not a magic bullet to our success. If it was that simple, every city would be experiencing the same amount of success we are.

Our citizens, business community and local government officials have spent the better part of the past two decades working together to build a community our citizens enjoy and a business climate that can compete with anyone in the world. It did not happen overnight. We wanted to position Oklahoma

City so that when opportunity arose, our community would be ready to act and show the rest of the country what we’ve known for some time: Oklahoma City’s time is right now, and it shows.

The Rankings ROLL

Survey Finds OKC One of the Top 4 Best Cities for Jobs in 2012 March 13, 2012 - Manpower Group

Time goes on, the seasons change, but one thing remains the same – Oklahoma City’s appearance on all types of thirdparty accolades lists. See some of our superlatives:

OKC in Top 10 Cities for Manufacturing Growth February 20, 2012 - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

OKC Ranks as the Most BusinessFriendly City June 11, 2012 - CNN Money OKC Ranks in Top 10 for Best Big Cities for Jobs May 1, 2012 - Forbes Oklahoma City the Least Costly City to Do Business April 17, 2012 - KPMG Standard & Poors Give OKC AAA Rating April 4, 2012 - Standard & Poors OKC Ranks as Top City for Job Creation March 30, 2012 - Gallup Retail Jobs Growth 3rd in Nation February 9, 2012 - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OKC is Surging in PrivateSector Gains February 6, 2012 - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Oklahoma City Great for Starting a Business December 28, 2011 - Kiplinger OKC One of the “Most Secure Places to Live” December 15, 2011 - Farmers Insurance Oklahoma City Ranked No. 1 for Economic Security December 14, 2011 - MetroTrends WSJ: OKC Among Best Cities for Business December 13, 2011 - Wall Street Journal Market Watch Two OKC Institutions (OU Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation) Named Best Places to Work in Academia August 1, 2012 - The Scientist

Oklahoma Ranks First for Lowest Cost of Living July 12, 2012 - CNBC’s “America’s Top States for Business 2012” OKC “6th Best City for Millenials” July 9, 2012 - Moving.com Men’s Fitness: OKC Among the Most Fit June 1, 2012 - Men’s Fitness

OKC one of only 13 U.S. Cities Bouncing Back from the Recession February 7, 2012 - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

OKC in Top 10 Happiest Cities for College Grads May 25, 2012 - Forbes

Oklahoma City No. 3 “Happiest Cities to Work In” January 17, 2012 - CareerBliss.com

OKC Ranked No. 3 on “Best Cities for Small Business” Ranking April 13, 2012 - The Business Journals

OKC Makes List of 10 Cities with Best Real Estate Appreciation Potential January 11, 2012 - Forbes Study Finds OKC Ranks 2nd for IT Activity Among Mid-Sized Cities January 6, 2012 - Zinnov OKC one of “Best Cities for Manufacturing Jobs” December 15, 2011 - Forbes

The relocation and opening of the new section of Interstate 40 south of its previous location accompanied the inauguration of one of Oklahoma City’s newest icons, the Skydance Bridge, destined to be part of the city’s MAPS 3 central park (see pg. 4) and the “Core to Shore” redevelopment area.

BIO MATTERS As preparations are being made for

BIOTECH

BOOM

another successful BIO International Convention, Oklahoma City’s Biotech sector is awash in good news as activity continues to increase and years of planning and strategic investment begin to come to fruition.

Oklahoma City-based Caisson Biotech recently announced a development and license agreement for their HEPtune heprosan sugar polymer-based drug delivery platform with industry giant Novo Nordisk to engineer and develop compounds for a variety of therapeutic uses. Caisson’s heprosan technology was developed

by Chief Scientist and Professor, Dr. Paul L. DeAngelis, at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, and helped foster a number of meetings with other potential collaborators at the Oklahoma Bioscience Association’s partnering area at the BIO International Convention in Boston this summer.

“This agreement with Novo Nordisk is significant and we are extremely pleased to closely collaborate with a leader in the development of therapeutic proteins,” stated Thomas Harlan, president and CEO of Caisson.

Selexys Pharmaceuticals, another Oklahoma City-based firm announced they have completed Phase I Clinical Trials for their new drug, an antibody called SelG1, that targets sickle-cell disease. Selexys is also developing an antibody for the treatment of Crohn’s Disease and other inflammatory disorders.

“This trial completion marks a key milestone for Selexys as we prepare to initiate a large Phase II efficacy study of this novel compound in patients with sickle cell disease.”

“SelG1 represents a first-in-class therapeutic approach for the treatment of sickle cell disease and potentially other proinflammatory and prothrombotic conditions,” said Dr. Russell Rother, Selexys executive vice president and COO.

Additionally, OKC-based DermaMedics, a pharmaceutical skin care company founded by University of Oklahoma Health Sciences

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Center scientist Dr. Bryan B. Fuller, found a number of companies from a variety of locations such as Spain, Japan, Denmark and Canada interested in partnering and working with them through meetings held at the OKBio On the m edical de booth at the BIO International vices fro OrthoC n are Inno Convention in Boston – a v a t i o ns is no high-tec phenomenon also experienced by h prosth etic devi a number of other biotech firms mimics t ce th h e h uman an in Greater Oklahoma City. kle. Du the devic e is uniq More than 35 organizations ue in tha technolo t it from the state helped staff gy that e n ables the OKBio’s presence at the adjustme use nts to th convention, holding more e prosthe levels thr sis an ough a s than 75 partnering meetings m artphone making app in the proces Fuller reported its own m i c r o p t r h he had more than 80 ocessore-fly adju stments requests for meetings to allow a natura easie l gait. O with potential partners r t h o Care has Magellan beg interested in his products. in its OK C m h a a n s

ufacturi released the prod “Oklahoma is making uct to m arket. a name for itself in Serial O klahoma bioscience, with worldCity inv Dr. Dav entor an class research and id Alber d t ’s latest ven exciting entrepreneurial company ture is A that prod startups,” said uces a de iPhone i vice that nto a cli Oklahoma Bioscience n i c a l q A u liveCor r ality hea Association President ecently a rt m n nounced the devic and CEO Sheri FDA app e. The d evice can Stickley. <OKC> professio be used nals to r by m e c o r d, displa evaluate y , store, t a patient r ’s ECG r hythms.

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TINKER CONTINUES TO PLAY PIVOTAL ROLE IN OKC AFSC Designation Makes Tinker a Focal Point of Support Oklahoma City’s Tinker Air Force Base is now the home to the Air Force Sustainment Center, providing execution and consolidation oversight of maintenance, supply chain activities and installation support for the Air Force.

As Tinker takes on this new role as the focal point for integrated sustainment of all Air Force weapons systems and support, the new command alignment is expected to provide greater efficiencies for our nation’s military – and potentially more future workload for Tinker.

The state’s largest single-site employer and headquarters of the newly-christened Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex, Tinker boasts a workforce of more than 26,000 and now becomes a key component of the Air Force’s new organizational structure.

“How we support combat airpower is what really counts,” said Lieutentant General Bruce Litchfield, AFSC

Commander. “Mission capable and ready weapons systems are what is required to fight and win our nation’s wars. And that is what the AFSC will deliver. Our Air Force also needs us to be more efficient and we will do that too.”

“Since World War II, Oklahoma City has Support to the warfighter has been a hallmark of Oklahoma garnered a City, from the establishment of the base, thanks to the legacy of passing of a bond issue for the land for the initial buildings supporting in 1941, on to the voters’ approval of a 2008 bond the Air issue for the purchase and adaptive reuse of the former Force, its mission and its people,” said Carl Edwards, General Motors plant. The facility was then handed over immediate past chairman of the Greater Oklahoma City to the Air Force and converted into the Tinker Aerospace Chamber. “Tinker is a crucial piece of our economic Complex, with renovations scheduled for completion in development engine, providing high-quality jobs to our 2013. The public-private partnership displayed has been citizens. The activation of the Air Force Sustainment repeated countless times among the many private aerospace Center validates the effort put in by the men and women companies located here to work on Tinker contracts at Tinker Air Force Base, and the dedication to the base and business, all finding OKC’s pro-business, low-cost shown by the citizens of Oklahoma City.” <OKC> environment easier in which to thrive.

OKLAHOMA CITY WELL-POSITIONED TO ATTRACT TALENT One of the demonstrated trends of today’s economic landscape—and presumably a standard feature of tomorrow’s—is the importance of the so-called “creative class.” In a world where company success is increasingly tied to the type and level of the employees it can hire, recruiting and retainment of a young workforce is paramount for a city. And this is an area in which Oklahoma City is starting to suggest sustained success is the norm.

entrepre neur AliveCo r, a turns an monitor . proval o f medical ransfer a nd Pete Delaney Chairman Greater OKC Chamber

As you may have read on page 5, Oklahoma City has garnered many recent accolades pertaining to the “creative class” cohort. For example, Moving. com ranked OKC No. 6 on its “Best Cities for

Millenials” list due to our low unemployment, affordable housing, good nightlife and university presence. Forbes put us at #9 on its ranking of “Best Cities for College Grads.” Forbes and New Geography also called us a Top 20 Boom Town.

A recent Chamber survey indicates that more than 91 percent of our young professionals-to-be intend to stay in Oklahoma City, and a noted “boomerang effect” has shown that some of our young people that 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. All of this points to the fact that Oklahoma City’s low cost/

high value proposition resonates well with this group, as it does with so many businesses and employees.

As does the continued renaissance and reinvigoration of our downtown area. Many experts point to the new urban lifestyle this demographic craves, and Oklahoma City delivers.

When it comes to workforce, Oklahoma City is well-positioned for success, both today and tomorrow. Give us a call and come see why OKC makes so much sense for young professionals— and the companies that employ them.