Brucepac, Durant Bell Lumber and Pole, Broken Bow TLC Rail Services, Wright City Oldcastle Enclosure Solutions, Poteau What businesses would be a good fit for the region and how does ODOC work to attract those types of businesses? I would like to see more outdoor-type companies locate – companies that manufacture guns, ammunition, fourwheelers, camping equipment, game calls, boats, or anything associated with outdoor activities. OKSE has identified outdoor industry as a target for the area. ODOC provides support to the group. Earlier this year we attended the SHOT (Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade) Show in Las Vegas in order to work to recruit companies to Oklahoma. This tradeshow is the biggest show for the shooting, hunting and firearms industry. From the show, we have identified several qualified business leads. Craft breweries are another industry that has been targeted by some communities in the Southeast region. With the abundance of water in the region this seems to be a natural fit. Krebs has a craft brewery that is doing very well and has recently expanded. Commerce is assisting with research on this industry and we are currently working a project for a craft brewery interested in locating in the Southeast region. How do you work to provide workforce solutions for companies? I work directly with the Southern Workforce Board to assist with workforce issues that companies have. The region holds manufacturing summits to identify the types of issues manufactures in the region have. I call on companies to find out what type of issues they may have and offer assistance for the company. I also report findings back to the Southern Workforce Board so they can be aware of company issues. What partnerships are vital to the area? OKSE is a vital partnership. The group is made up of cities, tribes, utilities, universities, and workforce and agency representatives from the region. Together, they host business representatives to the region in an attempt to get industry and retail to locate in the Southeast Region. OKSE hosts three events each year including the Lt. Governor’s Turkey Hunt in Hugo, Golf/Striper event in the Durant and the Golf/Trout event in Broken Bow. Members of the group also attend the
retail show in Dallas and the SHOT Show in Las Vegas. This regional group receives no state, federal or grant funds. The Choctaw Nation and Chickasaw Nation are critical partnerships that are have been essential to getting projects completed in Southeast Oklahoma. The tribes have been great partners for the communities, ODOC and OKSE. For me personally, the relationships that I have developed with the partners in the region such as the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance, Rural Enterprises, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations, CareerTech institutions, universities, workforce and others are the most critical for me to help the region. How have community and economic development grants helped the region? Without these grants many communities and businesses would not have been able to expand, do necessary repairs or purchase equipment. These grants are distributed by ODOC’s Community Development team and allow companies to grow and adds more jobs, help cities to improve infrastructure and purchase equipment to improve their city. What services do you provide that communities should be more aware of? Assist existing businesses with making them aware of the State incentives that can be available to them, that Commerce has a global division that helps companies with export, that Commerce can perform research and provide analysis for communities and make them aware of programs such as the CDBG-EDIF grant program. Making the companies aware that I can connect them to Rural Enterprises, USDA, The Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance, Small Business Administration, OCAST, OSU Extension and other agencies or individuals that could assist them with business plans, funding, grants, import/export or other needs that they may have. For more information contact Glenn Glass, Development Specialist 108 South Dwight, Coalgate, OK 74538 405-596-1640, glenn.glass@okcommerce.gov
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