You’ve heard of Oklahoma City. But have you HEARD? Because Oklahoma City has been making some Likewise, the list of reasons you should relocate noise. National rankings in 10 different quality- your business to Oklahoma City is growing – almost of-life categories. Billions of dollars in city and as quickly as the reasons why people love living here. education system improvements. The fastest- growing entertainment district in the Southwest. The following pages will introduce you to the 10-county And the list goes on. region that is greater Oklahoma City. And what you’re about to discover is a city that has rediscovered its strengths – and redefined itself for the future. TABLE OF CONTENTS BOOMING IN ENERGY 1 OKC: PERFECTLY SITUATED FOR BUSINESS 7 BOOMING IN BIOTECHNOLOGY 3 QUALITY PEOPLE 10 BOOMING IN AVIATION QUALITY PLACE 12 AND AEROSPACE 5 THE ART OF PROGRESS 14 2 BOOMING IN ENERGY With Americans focused on cleaner energy and domestic resources for “People increasingly want to move People often describe Oklahomans the way for the great things that are supplying it, the oil and natural gas industries are in the spotlight – and here, jobs are opening and there as the friendliest people they’ve ever happening in Oklahoma City – and Oklahoma City is home to two of the largest independent natural gas will be continuous growth,” said met – and in our state, money goes that means a positive business producers in the country, Devon Energy and Chesapeake Energy, as well as Tom Ward, Chairman and CEO of farther, commutes are shorter and climate that’s open to change and many leading drilling and production companies. SandRidge Energy. Word on the housing is less expensive. That’s an growth. As a business leader, you quality of life in Oklahoma City has appealing formula for a great place can position yourself in a city that’s According to Aubrey McClendon, Chairman and CEO of Chesapeake Energy, definitely spread, as more and more to live and work. small enough that you can make a Oklahoma City is one of the most important energy cities in the country today, people realize the appeal of a place difference, but big enough that you second only to Houston. With its position in the current marketplace and that has all of the conveniences of Unity between city leaders, can meet and exceed your goals. potential for industry leadership in the future, Oklahoma City has found its a big city, but few of the hassles. corporations and citizens has led place among the list of vital energy cities. The Weatherford Wind Energy Center Chesapeake Energy campus in Oklahoma City “MORE THAN $5 BILLIon IN PUBLIC- anD PRIVate-SECtor INVEStment “97% OF OUR natUraL GAS neeDS are met From north amerICA … OKLAHOMA haS A Lot OF IT anD I thINK haS LIteraLLY tranSFormeD OKLahoma CITY.” OKLahoma CITY Can INCreaSINGLY BE Seen AS the Center OF the UNIVerSE For amerICA’S onShore -Larry Nichols, Chairman and CEO, Devon Energy Corporation natUraL GAS INDUStrY.” -Aubrey McClendon, Chairman and CEO, Chesapeake Energy Corporation Rendering of future Devon Energy headquarters 3 BOOMING IN BIOTECHNOLOGY The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a growth of more than 28% in the U.S. biotech industry by 2014, and Oklahoma is positioned to be a major player in facilitating that growth. Undeniably, one of the most significant factors in Oklahoma City’s biotech boom is the powerful symbiotic relationship between entrepreneurs, clinical researchers, academic investigators, and public and private investors. Presbyterian Health Foundation Research Park “OKLAHOMA CITY HAS A VIBRANT AND FOCUSED TECHNOLOGY VENTURE COMMUNITY.” -Michael Moradi, Founder and Managing Director, Venture Development Associates, LLC In recent years, some of the most susceptibility to Alzheimer’s disease, industry. PHF supports a variety of significant medical advances and as well as two other major medical health-related activities, including life-saving medicines have been breakthroughs – a diagnostic blood recruitment of research scientists and developed in Oklahoma City-based test for rheumatoid arthritis and a provision of research and equipment The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center labs and facilities. Researchers drug to combat septicemia, which is grants. They provide more than at Oklahoma Medical Research now used in ICUs worldwide. 700,000 square feet of lab and office “WE’VE HAD AN EXPLOSION IN … THIS FIELD DURING THE PAST DECADE OR SO. Foundation (OMRF), one of the most space to more than 50 companies WE’RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A REVOLUTION HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY .” respected independent medical According to OMRF president, and agencies, accommodating the -Dr. Joe Ferreti, Senior Vice President, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center research institutes nationwide, Dr. Steve Prescott, “there are a lot of research and development process, lead the discovery of the genetic organizations far bigger than ours … then helping to develop and expedite more than $3.5 billion per year. And Also on the horizon: a new facility, in 2010; and a new research mechanism responsible for that have never discovered anything the means by which that technology that’s only the beginning – in the Oklahoma Diabetes Center, funded tower for OMRF that will double even approaching the magnitude of goes from the lab to the marketplace. past 15 years, OUHSC’s funding from by nearly $30 million in private and its space. OKC is one of the country’s rising biotech communities. this in a practical sense.” the National Institutes of Health has public money; a new five-story, OUHSC, comprised of seven medical leaped significantly from $6 million $38-million facility for the Dean With a world-class caliber of research In addition to OMRF, Oklahoma City is schools, has benefited from PHF’s to $53 million. McGee Eye Institute – one of the facilities and wet lab space, abundant home to The University of Oklahoma efforts, with more than $65 million in National Institutes of Health’s funding opportunities and collaborative Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) and grants for medical research. In turn, OUHSC has doubled its research top 10 facilities for vision research efforts by legislators to enhance the Presbyterian Health Foundation the 30 institutions on its campus space in the past eight years, and over grant funding; the opening of the progress, you could say Oklahoma City (PHF) – equally innovative and employ more than 15,000 people the next three years plans nearly OU Cancer Institute, a $120-million has biotechnology down to a science. leading organizations in the biotech with a combined general revenue of $350 million in capital improvements. clinical research and treatment 5 6 BOOMING IN AVIATION Strong partnerships between as possible for the 3.7 million OKLAHOMA CITY’S education and training facilities have passengers it serves every year. AND AEROSPACE helped build and prepare a highly INDUSTRY LEADERS: proficient workforce, through a shared Commercially, carriers serving Will With 265 public- and private-sector aviation and aerospace firms, • FAA Mike Monroney vision to improve the overall quality, Rogers World Airport report average Oklahoma is now one of the top 10 states in traditional aerospace Aeronautical Center • Northrop Grumman effectiveness and efficiency of public increases in freight transportation of occupation employment. Around 38,000 workers make up our • Pratt & Whitney aviation and aerospace education more than 13%, and more than 16% in industry, generating an estimated $3.3 billion in goods and services • Boeing programs. As an added benefit, inbound freight. and $1.9 billion in income. Our state ranks 12th nationally in the • Jet Service Enterprises • educational institutions in Oklahoma number of aerospace engineers, fifth in aircraft mechanics and ARINC • AAR Corp. have access to close and frequent In fact, recent government reports service technicians, and eighth in avionic technicians when using interaction and communication with indicate that Oklahoma’s exports have occupation-based data that includes federal employees. Will Rogers World Airport private- and public-sector industry increased by 72% since 2003, helping partners such as Boeing, the Federal our state retain industrial facilities OKLahoma haS A StronG aeroSPACE INFraStrUCTUre, WIth 54 State-OF-the-art traINING CenterS ACroSS the State. Aviation Administration (FAA) and and its manufacturing strength at Leading the way is Tinker Air Force aerospace manufacturing and Tinker Air Force Base. a time when many other states are Base – the largest group of civilian production facility in the world, experiencing decline. According to PROGRAMS AT OKLAHOMA’S Air Force personnel in the U.S., and is the result of a $54-million bond At the hub of Oklahoma City’s aviation Manufacturers’ News, Oklahoma’s TECHNOLOGY CENTERS, COLLEGES Oklahoma’s largest single-site issue passed by voters, and more According to Greater Oklahoma industry is Will Rogers World Airport – machinery and equipment AND UNIVERSITIES OFFER employer, with an annual statewide than $50 million in renovations by City Chamber President and CEO with approximately 10,000 employees manufacturing sector is up 1.5% TRAINING, CERTIFICATES AND economic impact of close to $4 billion. the Air Force. Best of all, space Roy H. Williams, “The MROTC strongly and 67 tenants, including the Federal since 2007, with more than 42,000 DEGREES IN ALL THE NECESSARY in the Tinker Aerospace Complex complements Tinker AFB’s military Transfer Center, ARINC, Metro Tech people employed by manufacturing SPECIALTIES, INCLUDING: In recent years, several new state- is available to private companies aviation emphasis, significantly Aviation Career Center and Southwest in Oklahoma City alone. • Air Frame and Power Plant Technician of-the-art facilities have come to working on DOD projects, improving diversifies the region’s aerospace Airlines Reservation Center – as well • Nondestructive Testing fruition, demonstrating once again efficiency and creating synergy with activity and ultimately strengthens as Oklahoma City’s Foreign Trade The built-in work ethic that comes • Transport Aircraft the incredible synergy among their public partners.