University Of Oklahoma enters SEC
City focuses on affordable housing
Norman Regional relocates
Norman Public Schools tout new programs
Chamber promotes tourism
Visit Norman boosts city
Boyd Street Ventures funds start-ups
by
ARCHIEBALD BROWNE
Norman Public Schools will begin construction projects and implement multiple new programs for the upcoming 2024-25 school year.
NPS will participate in the federal Community Eligibility Provision program to provide nearly 5,000 students with free breakfast or lunch, regardless of income.
Starting this upcoming school year, 10 schools will offer the CEP program. The entire student body at a participating school is eligible for the program based on the ratio of families who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Medicaid Free, Temporary Assistance for Need Families or those students who are identified as a foster, homeless, migrant or runaway child.
NPS will review the program’s success and costs before considering an expansion to other schools.
“We’re thrilled to kick off this school year with such a game-changing program,” NPS Superintendent Nick Migliorino said. “It’s exciting to think that when the bell rings this fall, every child at these schools can start their day with a healthy breakfast and recharge at lunch, completely free of charge. This program is going to make a real difference right away, lifting a huge weight off our families’ shoulders and letting our students focus on what really matters — learning and growing.”
NPS saw an acceleration in renewable energy project development due to years of preparation and collaboration.
In December 2023 the Irving Middle School Outdoor Solar Classroom installation started producing energy. NPS then put in a 488-panel rooftop solar installation on Norman North High School funded by a third party owner through the Brightwell Group in April.
There are plans to expand the installation at Irving with funds
See SCHOOLS on D5
PROJECT RENDERINGS OF FOOTBALL AND ATHLETIC STADIUM
It’s nearly impossible not to notice the changing landscape in Norman with the continued proliferation of new construction, much of which is in the extremely competitive multi-dwelling unit (MDU) sector. A 2024 survey by the National Multifamily Housing Council found that 87% of renters demand robust connectivity from the properties they live in—and, according to Rent.com, they’re willing to pay $38 more each month to have it. More choices for savvy renters means property owners and managers are challenged to manage rising operating costs while offering the latest and greatest tech to attract prospective residents and retain those they already have.
Enter Cox Communities, a division of Cox Communications, whose continued investment in smart technology is helping address the needs of all stakeholders. While the latest technology must be added to older MDU properties to help them stay competitive, it’s often installed in new builds, which means our work also happens, quite literally, at ground level through long-standing relationships with local builders.
The Internet of Things (IoT) refers, at its essence, to a network of physical devices—phones, sensors, and cameras, for example— connected to one another and which help owners and residents manage their experience from the curb to the couch. If you’ve rented a storage unit recently, you’re likely able to open the entrance gate through an app on your phone. In an apartment building or complex, you may use an app to access entry to a property, a garage, or even an elevator. With IoT, nearly everything is at your
Cox Communities has partnered with Level M, a provider of next-generation smart tech solutions for multifamily customers, to provide the most cutting-edge technology solutions, which years of experience in the multifamily space. Level M partners with Cox to support the multifamily industry including:
• Offering comfort, convenience, and control to residents—With a single app, residents can do everything from enter through a main gate, enter a hallway and enter their apartment. Residents can also control their thermostat and lights, reducing their utility bills. Safety, security, and convenience are in the palm of their hand from the start.
• Improving efficiency and property management—Gone are the days of triplicate carbon copies or a ring full of keys. Level M alleviates the need to manage property access on-site: Owners can now control everything via app or desktop and provide managers and workers an access code. Where a maintenance worker once had to make multiple trips to address a single trouble ticket, now
• Avoiding unexpected expenses for owners—The average leak can cost an owner as much as $35k, and with insurance premiums and deductibles on the rise, it’s never been more important to mitigate the impact of leaks. Enter through a device placed on water heaters and pipes underneath sinks (some insurance companies offer a discount for leak protection). In addition, smart thermosavings for both owners and residents.
• Making move-in a breeze for everyone—The revolutionary smart-building connectivity of IoT translates to unmatched reliability, affordabilfor a cable installer. With Cox’s pre-installed internet program, residents can be connected within minutes of move-in and enjoy fast, reliable internet—and a suite of smart apartment amenities—so they can be online on move-in day.
Of course, these are just a few examples of the many ways smart apartment technologies impact the growing MDU market, and more change is coming. The infrastructure holds endless promise of what’s possible when it comes to supporting the extremely competitive housing industry. As developers shift to affordable single-family “build-to-rent” communities with the latest technology, Cox is helping owners of existing properties update their technology. Upgrading older properties with the latest Smart Tech enables them to remain relevant as a viable choice for renters and be a positive contributor in growing communities.
Norman is growing, and the Smart Tech that feeds our multifamily homes is enhancing the rental experience across the board. As a partner, Cox Communities will continue to innovate while providing robust services, best-in-class connectivity, and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions to build a better future for all.
KYLE PHILLIPS THE TRANSCRIPT
Norman Chamber of Commerce
President and CEO Scott Martin is excited about the future of Norman; and he wants to put that excitement to work to make Norman a destination.
As the landscape changes and more amenities and people visit from out of town, Martin says the city is in a great spot to capitalize by capturing those tax dollars.
“There are things that I think really highlight the unique areas that Norman has to offer and provides an attraction and a draw,” Martin said. “There are some really exciting things that are on the horizon, big and small, and they all work together.”
The most exciting thing on that list, Martin says, is OU changing conferences from the Big 12 and moving to the SEC. Something he says is good for everyone involved.
“That move certainly has been monumental for the community,” Martin said, “The University reached out to us early on and said ‘Hey this is way bigger than just what happens on the court or the field. It’s really going impact the entire community, particularly our businesses.’”
Martin knows the conference move will bring more out-of-town visitors to Norman, and that means more money for local businesses and tax dollars for the city.
“What we have learned is that they travel well,” Martin said. “Even if they don’t come to the game, they still want to be a part of the festivities. We have tried and continue to work on how we can promote and make known to those out-of-town visitors our great local businesses that we have.”
Martin says OU sports isn’t the only way Norman can bring visitors to the City. He emphasized that sports tourism is on the rise and Norman can be a landmark destination.
“Sports tourism is a big deal, and it’s a big economic driver,” Martin said. “It is a natural fit in Norman because you have OU athletics, but then you have all of these families that have their kids in leagues.”
Martin says Norman Forward helped put the city in a good position to capture those sports tourism dollars. Norman Forward is a resident-initiated proposal to renovate, expand, construct and fund quality-of-life projects, such as multiple recreational facilities, libraries, parks, athletic venues, public art, trails, swim complexes and other quality-of-life projects throughout Norman.
“We’ve had the Optimist gym forever, and Griffin Park and Reaves Park have been around for a long time. We wanted to upgrade those and then make them more of a yearround attraction. All of them have been really well done, and we are seeing the fruits of that labor.”
Martin says the Young Family Athletic Center is one of the projects that has made a big impact on bringing visitors to Norman.
“By all accounts the YFAC has been more successful than people thought it would be. There were high expectations, but I think it has outpaced those,” Martin said. “You see a lot of teams from around the region that are coming to Norman and they are staying at a hotel, eating at a restaurant. So that is out-of-town money that is being invested in our community.”
With more people wanting to experience more in their own town without having to travel, Martin says some of these initiatives will give people a way to keep their money in Norman.
“People are looking for experiences; they are looking for live, work, play,” Martin said, “They want to
shop and do things where they live.”
Martin says he sees the proposed entertainment district playing a big part in changing the landscape of Norman, not just commercially and residentially.
“That’s one reason this proposed
entertainment development is so exciting for us,” Martin said. “It’s because we see this as a major comprehensive development. It’s not just new houses, it’s not just retail, it’s not just this huge entertainment venue and new offices. It’s all of that
“We are big enough where we can have multiple districts that are all thriving at the same time. Part of the Chamber’s mission is to work to support all of our businesses, so I am looking forward to see where we are going as a community.”
SCOTT MARTIN
Norman Chamber of Commerce President and CEO
together and you often don’t see that, so we’re excited about that.”
Martin says the Chamber is also always looking for ways to support locally owned and managed businesses.
“We regularly are targeting opportunities that allow us to support our homegrown businesses,” Martin said. “We just got off a really
aggressive campaign from early July for restaurant week. It was blown up bigger than we normally do because of the move to the SEC and that added to the excitement and added to the activities going on.”
During the campaign, shoppers who spent $50 at participating local businesses received a $10 gift card back to that business. Martin says it was a great incentive for shoppers and businesses alike.
“Not only did you support a local business initially, but then were gonna give you a little gift card,” Martin said. “So now you can go back and support them again in the future. It’s my intention that we would do something like that again.
And while Martin says it might not seem like much, it’s programs like that that help promote those local businesses.
“It’s a small investment from the Chambers prospective,” Martin said. “But I think it means a lot to our members and general businesses that we are providing some attention and incentive for people to shop local and emphasize how impotent that is.”
And it’s those investments that help local businesses stay afloat during the slow season. Martin says Sumner can be especially hard on local small businesses.
“It’s a time when a lot of OU student are not here and so a lot of businesses struggle to bridge the gap between the end of one semester and the start of another,” Martin said. “So we want to do everything we can to support them. So our efforts we have implemented are up-to-date, and I am really excited about expanding on that.”
Despite some of those struggles, Martin is excited about the future of Norman and hopes that the next year will bring positive changes to the community.
“We are big enough where we can have multiple districts that are all thriving at the same time,” Martin said. “Part of the Chamber’s mission is to work to support all of our businesses, so I am looking forward to see where we are going as a community.”
Cox achieved a milestone this year in its ISP service, being named the fastest broadband provider in the U.S. by HighSpeedInternet.com
In its 2024 annual review, HighSpeedInternet.com gave Cox the top rating based on average download speeds for all of 2023.
According to a press release, Cox claimed the top spot by delivering average year-long download speeds of 238 Mbps across the country. The press release stated that Cox average speeds were10 Mbps ahead of its nearest competitor.
“As consumers continue to introduce more connected device in their homes, the need for fast fiber-powered broadband becomes increasingly
important,” said Roger Ramseyer, market vice president for Cox.
“Validating our capabilities with a respected third-party partner reinforces our message to customers that we can deliver the fiber-powered reliable speeds they need now and well into the future.”
Cox, said in the news release, it has invested nearly $12B in network upgrades over the past 10 years (2014-2023). The company said it will continue making multibillion-dollar annual infrastructure investments over the next several years.
“All Cox markets are powered by fiber today and we continue to expand fiber-to-the-home across our footprint in the coming years. Today,
all Cox customers have access to gig speeds and approximately half have access to multi-gig speeds,” the news release stated.
Cox said in the statement that it increased download speeds for the majority of our customers in 2023, doubling the speed of its most popular tier from 250 to 500 Mbps, and nearly 70% of our customers now have speeds of half a gig or more. According to the news release, “Internet users seeking to measure the speed of their connected devices while at home can do so via HSI’s website tool or by downloading the speed testing app, available via the Apple App Store and Google Play.”
“Our Speed Test sets the standard
for millions of Americans seeking greater insight into their internet connection.
“With millions of tests conducted in our 2024 Annual Review, HighSpeedInternet.com has the unique capability to examine speeds for internet users from coast to coast,” said Manuel Delgado, managing director at HighSpeedInternet.com.
“As technologies and ISP infrastructures improve, it is impressive to see Cox emerge as the fastest broadband provider in the U.S. this year in our comprehensive analysis.”
Submitted
“As technologies and ISP infrastructures improve, it is impressive to see Cox emerge as the fastest broadband provider in the U.S. this year in our comprehensive analysis.”
MANUEL DELGADO Managing director at HighSpeedInternet.com
The Norman Regional Health System says it is focused on how to provide health care to the community now and far into the future while the city continues to grow. Since initiating its Inspire Health plan in 2019, NRHS has opened Norman Regional Nine, Behavioral Health Porter Village, revamped the system’s Porter campus and recently completed a hospital expansion.
The expansions come with new technology to better aid doctors and nurses in caring for patients.
Every aspect of the new Healthplex location, to soon be called Norman Regional Hospital, will continue to focus on the patient’s best possible outcomes.
”This initiative overall, it was about designing a facility and processes that had one thing in mind, and that was the best possible patient care” Richie Splitt, president and CEO of NRHS previously told the Transcript. “So everything that we have done, has been hyper focused on what’s best for the patient.” NRHS is moving patients from the Porter location to the new Healthplex.
The hospital system is moving acute care services, including the emergency department, intensive care unit, surgery services and inpatient care to the Norman Regional Healthplex.
The expansion grows Norman Regional Hospital to more than 770,000 square feet, according to a release. New spaces include an additional critical care tower, an expanded emergency department, 14 operating rooms and a 700-space, multi-level parking garage.
“We are opening our newly expanded hospital ... and embarking on an exciting new chapter of service, growth and innovation,” Splitt said in a statement. “Our employees, who we call healers, are energized and ready to provide personalized, compassionate care in this new state-of-theart environment.”
The Porter Emergency Department is becoming an Urgent Care clinic and will no longer provide emergency medical treatment. The location on Porter will continue to have the Cancer Management Center open until the completion of the OU Stephenson Cancer Center at the new Norman Regional Hospital campus in 2025.
NEW TECHNOLOGY
MINDY WOOD THE TRANSCRIPT
Programs to encourage youth to make healthy food choices is proving to be popular at the Well with two more years’ of funding left to keep it going.
The programs entice youth to join educational activities at the Well in exchange for free produce and some fun. Tara McClain oversees health programming at the Well, 210 James Garner Ave., and says the response from the public has her looking to other grants to extend health initiatives made possible with American Rescue Plan Act funds.
The Well’s recently launched, Walk, Bike and Skate program was a hit, McClain said.
“So far we’ve had amazing attendance,” she said of the exercise and produce program.
“It’s great to see people get out here without the use of motorized vehicles and get the benefit from that.”
The first 30 participants can cash in $20 in produce bucks available through the Well from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.
McClain said the bucks are usually gone within the first two hours, so those who want to take advantage should plan to arrive within that time.
A second program, the Power of Produce Club, held Tuesdays during Farm Market hours, invites children to taste new foods and join in a produce related activity. They also receive $5 in produce bucks. So far, more than 250 children have attended the club night.
“We try to find something that’s a little bit unique that somebody has at the market,” McClain said. “They get two bites, so they just have to basically try it.”
Following the closure of the Tuesday Farm Market for the season, McClain plans to continue the event once per month.
During the 2nd Friday Artwalk, another health program is themed with a book to go along with activities. In July the theme was Dragons Love Tacos and August it will be the Little Mermaid; in September, Little Red Riding Hood. Children fed tacos to a costumed dragon, enjoyed live music and a taco truck.
The system allows physical therapists to work using a reduced gravity-like environment, giving patients the ability to move without fear.
“If we want to offer our patients the best available care, we have to get them walking faster and further. A tool like the ZeroG ensures we can do this safely,” said Ben Vandaveer, a physical therapist and manager of the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit at Norman Regional.
NRHA partnered with Oceans Healthcare to open the Behavioral Health Center at Porter Health Village in June, providing inpatient treatment to patients 18 and older and dedicated care to seniors over 55.
The facility, located at 506 Wellness Way, increases access to care in south-central Oklahoma and more than doubles Norman Regional Health System’s current inpatient capacity.
More than 53 percent of adults living with a mental health condition in Oklahoma went untreated last year, according to the 2023 Mental Health America report. Approximately 222,000 adults in the state also reported facing issues when seeking help.
It’s all part of a goal to provide youth programming, something that McClain is passionate about and plans to increase.
“I felt like one of the things lacking at the Well was youth programming,” she said. “I’m really trying to fill the 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. hour every single day as some sort of youth activity like art classes, youth athletic classes, and that’s my push going forward.”
McClain also said she plans to seek grant funding to keep the programs going after the ARPA funds are expended. The funds also paid for acoustic panels in the Well to reduce echo and improve sound quality for the hard of hearing.
“I felt like one of the things lacking at the Well was youth programming. I’m really trying to fill the 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. hour every single day as some sort of youth activity like art classes, youth athletic classes, and that’s my push going forward.”
TARA McCLAIN
NRHS Breast Oncologic Surgeon John Chace advocated for the Clarix Imaging system. The Norman Regional Health Foundation invested in the new technology on behalf of the health system to improve patient outcomes.
“The very first time I used the Clarix System, this tech-
The new hospital carries new health care technology, some of which will be the first in the state. Some include a ZeroG robotic bodyweight support system to help patients walk and the Clarix Imaging CT (3D) breast specimen imaging system, which will help breast cancer surgeons identify tumors more easily during lumpectomy procedures.
nology positively impacted the care of my patient,” Chance said in a release. “She had a known small invasive cancer that we had localized. With the Clarix imaging of the specimen, I could see an area trailing away from it up to the margin. This prompted me to take additional tissue. The additional margin was negative and prevented her from having to return to
Operating Room for a second surgery”.
NRHS is the first in Oklahoma to offer the ZeroG robotic body-weight support system. It aids patients’ physical therapy through strength and mobility for those who have experienced stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, amputees and orthopedic injury.
“The Behavioral Health Center at Porter Health Village is the culmination of a shared vision of highquality, accessible care, and we’re proud to see it come to fruition,” Bill Southwick, hospital administrator, previously said. “We’re eager to see
and
collected by the school’s Students for Solar Club. With the addition of the 2MW solar farm in partnership with Oklahoma Electric Cooperative, the district has three completed solar installations.
NPS entered a five-year contract with Cenergistic, an energy conservation consultant to reduce energy consumption by 25 percent. The plan is to reach the goal by reassessing Building Automated Systems, analyzing utility data, developing energy setbacks over long breaks and closely monitoring HVAC equipment.
“By integrating solar installations across multiple campuses and implementing comprehensive energy conservation measures, NPS is not only reducing operational costs but also providing invaluable realworld learning experiences for our students,” Justin Milner, Associate Superintendent and Chief Operating Officer of NPS said. “These projects are more than just infrastructure improvements – they’re investments in our future. They represent a commitment to fiscal responsibility, environmental consciousness and innovative education.”
One of NPS’ newest facilities, the Center for Arts and Learning, is set to open this fall. The district purchased the former Journey Church at 3801 Journey Parkway and repurposed it as part of a voter-approved 2023 bond initiative.
“It will be an exceptional venue for fine arts performances, 5th grade graduations, and a wide array of community events and celebrations,” Evelyn Kwanza, Director of Fine Arts for NPS, said. “It has the potential to positively influence our students and community for decades.”
The 60,000 square foot facility will feature a 1,600 seat auditorium.
OKLAHOMA AVIATION
ACADEMY
NPS will break ground this fall on the new Oklahoma Aviation Academy facility. The $32 million project, which is part of a larger $354 million bond for district wide improvements, aims to create a learning environment designed to accommodate up to 600 students.
This upcoming school year, 229 students are enrolled in aviation classes, up from 170 last year, with an additional 55 students in the OAA Pre-engineering program.
The new facility will adhere to the academy’s comprehensive curriculum, which includes specialized courses for each grade level. Students in grades 11 and 12 will have access to advanced programs such as the Tango Flight class, where students will build a Vans RV-12 airplane over two
years. The campus design features a two-story main building with flight simulator rooms, science labs, and collaborative spaces. It also includes a College and Careers Center and a twostory storm shelter meeting ICC 500 standards. The design allows room for future expansion.
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“We’re not just building a stadium — we’re creating a home for our athletes, a gathering place for our community, and a symbol of our commitment to excellence in athletics and education.”
TD O’HARA NPS Director
of Athletics
our community’s commitment to innovative education and the bright futures of our students. We can’t wait to see the first shovel hit the ground and watch our vision take flight.”
Construction for the new Norman North High School Stadium begins in August. The $24 million project was approved in the 2023 bond and includes upgrades to other sports facilities and expansions.
The project will be rolled out in phases, with the first phase starting next month, focusing on the new track and practice football field.
The project represents a large investment in the school’s athletic facilities, enhancing the experience for students, athletes and spectators.
Photo provided
“The groundbreaking at the Oklahoma Aviation Academy isn’t just about turning soil; it’s about laying the foundation for the future of aviation education in Norman,” Migliorino said. “Our enrollment numbers are soaring, and the new facility will stand as a reminder of
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“We’re not just building a stadium — we’re creating a home for our athletes, a gathering place for our community, and a symbol of our commitment to excellence in athletics and education,” TD O’Hara, NPS Director of Athletics, said. “We’re excited to see how this new stadium will inspire the next generation of Timberwolves to reach even greater heights.”
The stadium is scheduled for completion in August 2025.
The Norman Transcript’s “Progress” edition drops every year right around an important time for the City of Norman: The beginning of the City’s new fiscal year.
The fiscal year began July 1, and in Fiscal Year 2024 the City of Norman tackled everything from affordable housing to infrastructure improvements.
Mayor Larry Heikkila and Councilmember Stephen Tyler Holman — the longest-tenured member of the council, with 11 years under his belt — both listed the passage of the 2023 passage of a new bridge bond among the council’s biggest accomplishments.
In July 2023, the council adopted a resolution setting a $50 million, 10-year bond to repair or replace 18 bridges throughout Norman to an election. In October, the residents of Norman passed the bond with 57.61% of the vote.
“Now that voters have already approved it, in the future, renewing it doesn’t require any tax increase. That’s been one of the more popular parts of street maintenance bond that was approved in 2006, and again in 2011, 2016, and 2021,” Holman said.
The bridge repairs will be paid for through a property tax increase: roughly $2.44 more for a $100,000 home
$5.10 for a $200,000 home and $7.75 for a $300,000 home.
The council approved a bid to begin work on the first round of repairs in February: A bridge on 60th Avenue NE over Rock Creek and a bridge near the intersection of Lindsey Street and Classen Boulevard.
Both of these bridges have a very low sufficiency rating which makes them in need of immediate attention.
According to City engineers, the bridge at 60th Avenue is rated at 27.2 out of 100 and the bridge at Lindsey Street is rated at 53.7 out of 100.
“The City’s had to work with
the property owners next to it on acquiring enough right-ofway on the frontage to build the new bridge,” Holman said of the bridge on 60th Avenue. “It should be under construction by the end of the year.”
In March, the council voted unanimously in favor of a new ordinance to allow accessory dwelling units, a small step in addressing affordable housing needs in Norman.
Accessory dwelling units, also known as ADUs, are small, secondary dwelling units on properties that already have an existing residential unit. ADUs can be detached from the main dwelling unit (i.e., a small guesthouse) or attached (i.e., a garage refurbished into an
apartment).
Holman said the the City has considered allowing ADUs for several years, but began seriously exploring a new ordinance after participating in a 24-month program with Strong Towns, a national nonprofit dedicated to creating growth and development strategies for specific cities.
“The ADU is one of the recommendations from Strong Towns as a low-impact, incremental way to deal with growth without completely overwhelming an existing neighborhood by tearing everything down and building big apartments,” Holman said. To the end of further developing affordable housing opportunities, Holman listed
work on a new housing edition called Crimson Flats among the council’s biggest accomplishments last year.
Crimson Flats will feature 75 housing units for people with low incomes, especially those with disabilities or Section 8 housing vouchers. The residencies will include rent caps based on median incomes.
The council initially approved the purchase of five acres at the intersection of Imhoff Road and Oakhurst Avenue in January 2023. The purchase cost $525,000 and was paid through American Rescue Plan Act funds. The council approved further development plans on the site in November.
“It’s the biggest step the City of Norman government has ever taken to try to expand affordable housing in Norman,” Holman said. “I think it really showed how the council can work together to get stuff done.”
The council’s ability to work with other City entities — along with the councilmembers’ abilities to work with each other — was put to the test last fall when the council had to negotiate with both Norman Public Schools and the Norman Police Department to determine the future of four school resource officer positions.
“You’re talking about nine City Councilmembers and the mayor, and then five school
board members, different administrative staff, all that. So getting everybody on the same page, in the same room, sometimes can be a challenge,” Holman said.
Passed by residents back in 2014, the second iteration of the Public Safety Sales Tax called for 13 school resource officers to be placed in Norman’s public schools. The council’s job last fall was two approve funding for the final four positions to fulfil that commitment. And according to Heikkila, ultimately, over budget concerns, that’s what it came down to: commitment.
“I held that out. We had promised it. We had them as positions in the budget, but not funded them. And they’re very expensive, cops are pretty expensive — actually, all employees are expensive — but what we went and did was basically we agreed that we had promised this 10 years ago,” Heikkila said. “Now it was time to deliver.”
“We have an obligation to implement it,” Holman agreed.
The council initially postponed a decision on the final four positions in September, but when the item made it back onto their agenda in November, councilmembers approved the item 7-2. A more fun venture for the City Council was to officially certify Norman as a “filmfriendly” city. The “film-friendly” program is administered by the State Office of Film and Music and helps communities get in contact with and prepare for production crews. VisitNorman will serve as the primary point-of-contact with producers, but the certification is only possible through ordinance changes from the City Council.
In March, Norman City Council voted unanimously to classify film and television production events as special events, a designation previously given to festivals, concerts and similar activities. The Council also voted to create a new
PAXSON HAWS ASSISTANT EDITOR
In April, Boyd Street
Ventures announced a partnership with the Norman Economic Development Coalition to create a $2 million Cleveland County Centurions Growth Fund to invest in and provide guidance to Cleveland County startups.
“The purpose of it is to support Cleveland County entrepreneurs that, in other ways, haven’t been getting the attention,” said John Pohl, Marketing & Investor Relations for Boyd Street Ventures.
Startups looking to be considered for the Cleveland County Centurions Growth Fund will have to participate in Startup 405, an incubator started by NEDC.
Once in Startup 405, businesses will get help in a variety of areas, depending on what the business needs according to Pohl.
“Every company is going to be different,” he said.
“So whatever they’re lacking in terms of experience or knowledge, it could be in accounting, it could be some legal issues, it could be with helping getting their product refined, testing their product but whatever it might be, they can, they’ll get help from the incubator.”
The plan is to invest $50,000 to 200,000 in 10 to 15 startup companies from Cleveland County over two years.
Once businesses are ready to hit the market or have already gone to the market and are ready to expand, the business can apply to BSV for additional funding.
“If it’s going well and it looks like it’s going to be a smart investment for us and they need more money, Boyd Street Ventures will make an additional investment,” Pohl said.
“We have something called the Venture Studio by BSV that will be there to provide additional, even more advanced guidance to them, depending, again, on what they need.”
Boyd Street Ventures was started by James Spann in 2021. Spann attended the University of Oklahoma on a Navy ROTC scholarship and played soccer.
He served six years as a captain in the U.S. Marines before leaving the service and having a 30-year career as an executive in the Life Sciences industry, working in C-suite roles in such market leaders as AmerisourceBergen, Aramark and Medline. In 2005, the OU’s Navy ROTC program was on the verge of being shut down due to outdated facilities and a lack of student involvement, according to Spann.
“The
purpose of it is to support Cleveland County entrepreneurs that, in other ways, haven’t been getting the attention.”
JOHN POHL Marketing & Investor Relations for Boyd Street Ventures
He and other alums led a fundraising effort that ultimately generated over $25 million and restored the program to its former glory, according to a press release.
Spann was named Vice Chairman of the Board of Advisors for OU’s Stevenson School of Biomedical Engineering in 5 and observed numerous startups created in the OU ecosystem failing to
get to market for one primary reason: the lack of venture capital funding in Oklahoma.
Spann decided he would found a venture capital firm in Norman following his retirement.
He spent the final three years of his corporate career studying VC and retired in 2018.
Spann launched his venture capital in 2021, locating it on
Boyd Street near OU’s campus.
He and co-founder Jeff Moore, a McKinsey alum and Executive Director of OU’s Ronnie K. Irani Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth, worked with a team of OU students to come up with a name for the company. The winner: Boyd Street Ventures.
The firm launched its Fund I in March of 2022 and BSV has raised nearly $25M from several anchor investors — including Bank of America, Gateway Bank, the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology and the OG&E Energy Corp. Foundation.
BSV’s investment thesis is to pursue high returns by investing in small or unknown companies at prices that have not been bid up by the large East and West Coast investors.
It also seeks to provide derisking guidance that allows the companies to avoid costly mistakes, get to market sooner, grow and exit earlier and be more profitable. The Fund has invested in 16 companies — all with an Oklahoma connection and most in the Life Science area. It has also made 14 follow-on investments. BSV is currently targeting $25 million in additional funding for Fund I, which will close on Dec. 31.
“We have used these guys multiple times for plumbing issues and for when we were remodeling. They are fantastic. The guys are on time, professional, don’t find things that aren’t wrong and then charge for them. We really like this company and will continue to use them in the future.”
TARIK MASRI
TRANSCRIPT SPORTS EDITOR
Since it was passed by voters in 2015, the Norman Forward initiative, aimed at developing quality of life projects has completed nine projects across the city.
The initiative is funded by a 0.5% sales tax over 15 years, though over 90% of the projects have already been completed.
Some of the projects Norman Forward has already developed are the Westwood Family Aquatic Center, the Young Family Athletic Center, two libraries, the Westwood Indoor Tennis Facility and the Adult Wellness and Education Center.
Many of those projects focused on renovating and expanding Norman’s parks.
Norman Forward added 11 soccer fields to Griffin Park with plans to add three more and unveiled a new art installation this past July.
Sonoma Park, Oakhurst Park, Prairie Creek Park and Songbird Park each received upgraded playground equipment and constructed or renovated basketball courts, soccer fields, walking paths and signage.
A master plan for renovating Reaves Park was unveiled in 2017 and an official dedication ceremony was held in March of 2023.
With an estimated cost of $10 million, the Reaves Park renovation was one of several Norman Forward projects with a budget over eight figures. The library was the largest project at $39 million.
The City of Norman chipped in $32 million of the $43 million it cost to build the Young Family Athletic Center and The Adult Wellness and Education Center was $12.4 million.
In total nine Norman Forward projects had a budget of $10 million or more. The parks project includes seven different projects with a total budget of $26.5 million.
With the majority of the projects nearing completion, the city has already started to turn its attention towards a second phase of Norman Forward. Currently the only projects still under construction are the parks projects and traffic improvements. Those are expected to continue through 2027.
The current sales tax won’t end until 2030, but Norman mayor Larry Heikkilla stressed the importance of looking towards the future at the opening of the Adult Wellness and Education Center last October. Norman could choose to continue funding these projects by supporting a renewal of Norman Forward.
“There are several of us that have been plotting about what the next projects are,” Heikkila told the Transcript. “But that is just a few of us that are doing it. We need the whole community to say, ‘What do we want next? What do we need?’”
Tarik Masri is the sports editor for The Transcript covering OU athletics and area sports. You can reach him by emailing tarik@normantranscript.com
a number of
“There are several of us that have been plotting about what the next projects are. But that is just a few of us that are doing it. We need the whole community to say, ‘What do we want next? What do we need?’”
PAXSON HAWS ASSISTANT EDITOR
Visit Norman is focused on encouraging growth in Norman, promoting tourism to bring in visitors while working to keep them in town for longer periods.
Over the past year, Visit Norman has focused on several areas to continue its mission, including the Norman Sports Commission, the University of Oklahoma’s transition into the Southeastern Conference and its influence on the city, looking for new avenues to draw visitors.
SPORTS COMMISSION
Dan Schemm, president and CEO of Visit Norman, said residents voted to increase the guest tax from 5 percent to 8 percent in May 2023. A portion of the revenue from the tax went to the Arts Council and the remainder was used to create the Norman Sports commission.
“We’ve always known that youth sports were recession-proof, but we found out during the pandemic that they were also pandemic-proof,” Schemm said.
Schemm said with the 14 baseball diamonds at the Reeves complex, the Young Family Athletic Center with basketball, volleyball and a pool facility, it was the perfect time to come online with Norman Sports.
Norman Sports went live in July 2023 and hosted the National Beep Baseball World Series, a baseball championship for the blind and visually impaired.
“If you’ve not heard of it or seen it, it is absolutely amazing,” Schemm said. “It’s blind baseball players. The ball beeps and they’re able to hit it. I can’t hit a softball when I can see it, and they’re able to do this. So, it’s just super inspiring and to have that happen in Norman, Oklahoma, as kind of the first Norman sports event was really satisfying. It was something we had been working on since 2017.”
Schemm said sports in general was a big focus for Visit Norman over the past year and had a recording-breaking year with over 20,000 hotel bookings generated from sporting events. He expects this number to keep growing with more facilities and events coming online, as they book years out.
With the Young Family Athletic Center, Norman has hosted several Adidas tournaments, including one with over 200 teams. It also noted the Adidas 3SSB tournament featuring the most talented female high school basketball players. Schemm said there were over 400 college coaches in town for the tournament to scout prospective athletes.
The City has also hosted events from Puma, Mid America Youth Basketball, NXT Pro, the Perfect Game which is an OKC softball challenge and more. Next month, Norman will host a United Flag Football League event at the Gillis-Rother Soccer Complex.
“(We’re) really excited about all of those things and the interest in what’s happening out at all of these venues only continuing to grow,” Schemm said.
SEC
The University of Oklahoma joined the Southeastern Conference on July 1 and Norman and the university have been preparing for the move over the past years.
To prepare for the move, Schemm and Visit Norman spoke with similar organizations in Lexington, Kentucky, Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama to see what they were doing.
One of the easier projects Visit Norman could complete was a beautification project.
“If you’ve driven down Main Street or been to Campus Corner, you may have noticed the light pole banners that are up now,” he said.
“So, Visit Norman and the OU Athletic Department partnered to put those banners up to just make Main Street, Lindsay Street, and Campus Corner a more welcoming environment for the visitors that are coming.” OU has also recently announced changes to its tailgating policy and Visit Norman is looking at ways it can make an impact on that front.
“This is our only chance to make a first impression on many of these SEC fans,” Schemm said.
Visit Norman has worked on marketing campaigns to “push out and ornament” the visitors to what is available to do while in Norman.
Schemm said Norman is more unique in terms of location compared to other Sec cities since Oklahoma City is next door.
“They’re the big dog and people come and stay there. Our visitors can come and go to other cities to spend their money pretty easy,” he said.
“We’re looking to try and market Norman and all of the great restaurants, shops, attractions and amenities that we have. So, all of those new SEC fans come experience what Norman has to offer and don’t go other places to spend their money.”
Visit Norman is also serving on a committee looking at installing a monumental entryway sign along Interstate 35 and other entry points along Highway 9.
With Norman Forward, a resident-initiated proposal to renovate, expand and construct various quality-of-life projects, Visit Norman co-funded a feasibility study to look at place-making and quality-of-life studies.
A study on the revamping of mountain bike trails at Lake Thunderbird was looked at and Schemm said that the project isn’t far from completion.
“Cleveland County Commission authorized a million dollars of funds
to be used to enhance those trails and make it a better experience for those writers,” Schemm said. “So, that’s exciting.”
Visit Norman and Norman Forward also looked at a study for a larger National Weather Museum, which Scheem said has the potential to be funded as a Norman Forward project.
An equestrian venue has also been in consideration since Oklahoma City is the “quarter-horse capital of the world.”
“While we will never compete with them… they are a mega facility that
brings in events from all over the world,” Schemm said.
“We see a niche there of maybe supplementing what they do building off of their name recognition and bringing in smaller regional national events.” Schemm said they are in the process of wrapping up an overall master plan for Lake Thunderbird, separate from the mountain bike trails, to give visitors more options while at the Lake.
“Providing our visitors something to do giving them more options to spend money while they’re out at the
lake, but also enhancing the quality of life for our citizens,” he said. “So, getting two things accomplished at once.”
Visit Norman is working on a variety of other projects throughout the city and university, including capitalizing on NIL deals with OU athletes.
The organization has already partnered with several OU athletes to do Instagram takeovers.
“That’s something that we’re kind of leading the way on and have been excited about how that has increased engagement with our
TARIK MASRI TRANSCRIPT
SPORTS EDITOR
In a statement back in 2021, following the announcement that the University of Oklahoma had accepted an invitation to join the Southeastern Conference, OU Board of Regents chair Michael A. Cawley expressed a sentiment about the school that has been repeated since at least the early 1950’s.
“The entire university thrives when our athletics program thrives,” he said.
Oklahoma has often been able to leverage its success on the football field into success in other areas of the university.
Football and the revenue that it generates was the driving force behind the university’s decision to move conferences for the first time in nearly three decades. The SEC has the most lucrative television rights deal in college sports, earning $300 million per year through 2034.
“We are confident that by taking control of our own destiny and joining the SEC, OU will be in the best possible position to continue advancing our institution’s overall mission,” Cawley said.
During the 2021-22 fiscal year the SEC distributed an average of $51.3 million to all of its 14 schools. The Big 12 gave each of its 10 longest-standing members $44 million this year, which is fourth among power conferences behind the Big Ten, SEC and the Atlantic Coast Conference.
That revenue is needed to keep up with the growing costs of competing in today’s world of major college football. College athletic departments are facing new challenges like name, image and likeness collectives, to massive recruiting departments, to players now being able to earn money directly from schools according to a ruling from the Supreme Court.
“This decision today allows us to ensure we’re doing all we can to further OU’s longstanding record of athletics excellence; attracting top student-athletes from across the country and giving this institution the exposure it deserves,” OU athletic director Joe Castiglione said in the statement in 2021. “The special history, energy and character OU will bring to the SEC will only make us, and our new conference, stronger.”
Still, the university’s leaders are confident that the move will bring many positive changes to the university and the community of Norman.
A long-term goal for the university under president Joseph Harroz Jr. has been to earn one of the top accreditations a public university can obtain. The American Association of Universities has 71 total members consisting of the top research universities in the country.
“The board’s action today is undoubtedly one of the most significant decisions in our more than a century of athletics and is of true importance to the broader university,” said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. “We believe that joining the SEC will sustain our tradition of national-caliber athletics excellence, strengthen our flagship university as a whole and serve the wider interests of the state of Oklahoma.”
AAU members account for 64% of all competitively awarded federal funding in academic research.
The SEC has five schools with AAU accreditation — Missouri, Florida, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt and now Texas.
In 2023 Oklahoma saw a 33% increase in research
film permit and allow film and production crews to request temporary street closures to create closed sets.
“There wasn’t much convincing to Council to get it done,” Heikkila said. With those ordinances in place, the Office of Film and Music officially designated Norman as one of 32 filmfriendly communities in the state. The city received another designation particularly close to Heikkila’s heart: Norman is now a Purple Heart City. Heikkila, who served in the
“The
special history, energy and character OU will bring to the SEC will only make us, and our new conference, stronger.”
JOE CASTIGLIONE OU athletic director
funding to $210 million. Harroz said the school has seen a 16% total increase. The SEC has several programs aimed to help its member schools collaborate on academics and the school hopes that the move will bring it closer to meeting
U.S. Navy for 26 years, signed a proclamation in September announcing Norman was officially a Purple Heart City.
The designation, given by the Military Order of the Purple Heart, formally recognizes municipalities that honor military veterans killed or wounded in combat.
“It’s a big deal, because that’s people we left behind,” Heikkila said.
the requirements to earn AAU status.
Enrollment at the school continues to rise and the Sooners’ changing conferences could cause it to rise even higher. The move will expand the Sooners’ brand to
will be up for election.
While elections loom, so do serious decisions for the council. Among them are exploring options for a permanent homeless shelter and sobering center and continuing negotiations with the University of Oklahoma regarding a potential new arena.
a new part of the country and will be on national television more often under the SEC’s media rights deal with ESPN.
It’s no secret that success in college sports can lead to more interest in the school from prospective students. Alabama’s enrollment increased by over 50% in the 17 years that Nick Saban led the football team.
When Missouri left the Big 12 for the SEC in 2011, it saw out-of-state students from other states in the conference skyrocket. Around 158 Tennesseans have enrolled
at Missouri every year since 2011, a 61% increase from their Big 12 days according to a review of the school’s enrollment by the Columbia Missourian. Oklahoma’s freshman class increased by 11% from 2023 to 2024 and Harroz is expecting another double-digit jump next year.
It’s unclear exactly how much the SEC transition will increase enrollment, but the school and the city are preparing for some big changes.
In April the school announced it secured $36.5 million in federal funding for improvements to Max Westheimer Airport. Harroz said it was essential that the airport prepare for more traffic and larger planes following the school’s move to the SEC.
The conference is known
for having the most passionate fans in college sports and plenty will converge on Norman during Saturday’s starting this fall.
OU was forced to increase its visitor seat allotments to comply with SEC rules. Conference opponents will get at least 5,000 seats with 2,000 going in the lower bowl.
“When you look at it, the analysis is crystal clear,” Harroz said at a press conference on July 1. “Those 14 schools bring over $100 billion in impact to their states, and they travel, and they get engaged and it gives us a bigger stage.”
Tarik Masri is the sports editor for The Transcript covering OU athletics and area sports. You can reach him by emailing tarik@normantranscript.com
tial space around the arena in between 24th Avenue NW. and Interstate 35. But the plans were met with pushback from residents, many of whom demanded a public vote over the plans to fund the arena through a tax increment district. The Council approved a public vote for Aug. 27, but the vote was then shut down by a district court.
Now, the plans for the tax increment financing district are up in the air, with no councilmember willing to predict when they might make a decision on approving or rejecting it. It’s just one of many projects the council has to consider over the next year.
The City Council also swore in two new councilmembers, Joshua Hinkle of Ward 6 and Scott Dixon of Ward 8, while Helen Grant was re-elected to Ward 4 and Matt Peacock moved from Ward 8 to Ward 2. Next year, the odd-numbered wards and mayoral seat
Initial plans for the arena, which would be funded in part through a tax increment financing district that would redirect sales tax revenues around the arena towards its financing, were presented to the City last September.
Private developers said they intended to invest several hundred thousand dollars into retail, office and residen-
The same week as District Judge Thad Balkman stopped the Aug. 27 vote, a leaked memo from City Attorney Kathryn Walker suggested the City was encountering road blocks in finalizing plans with the district’s private developers.
The council will leave for its annual retreat shortly, which Holman says is always a great opportunity to outline priorities for the year.
“That’s really what it’s been like the whole 11 years on Council: Check one thing off, then there’s another big thing to go after,” Holman said.
“That’s just the nature of the city.” REFLECT CONTINUED FROM D6
