DEVELOPING THE OKLAHOMA ECONOMY An Oklahoma Academy Town Hall on Economic Development October 23-26, 2011, Quartz Mountain © 2011 The Oklahoma Academy Town Hall 1 Developing the Oklahoma Economy The Oklahoma Academy is a statewide nonprofit, nonpartisan, membership organization founded by Governor Henry Bellmon in 1967, and revitalized by him in 1985, to bring public attention to policy issues, provide objective, thorough research and act as a catalyst for positive change. The Mission of the Oklahoma Academy is to identify issues facing Oklahoma, provide well-researched, objective information, foster nonpartisan collaboration, develop responsible recommendations, and encourage community and legislative action. The Vision of the Oklahoma Academy is to empower Oklahomans to improve their quality of life through effective public policy development and implementation. The Academy Process identifies areas of need and problems facing Oklahoma, conducts research on identified critical issues, and develops long range goals, consensus recommendations, and agendas for action. Through the Town Hall conference process, forums and summits, the Academy increases citizen awareness, encourages civic engagement and sets the stage for thoughtfully improving Oklahoma. Moving Ideas Into Action The Oklahoma Academy 120 E. Sheridan, Suite 200 Oklahoma City, OK 73104-2427 405.232.5828 (phone) 405.236.5268 (fax) Email: [email protected] Developing the Oklahoma Economy 2 © 2011 The Oklahoma Academy Town Hall © 2011 The Oklahoma Academy Town Hall 3 Developing the Oklahoma Economy The Oklahoma Academy Tom McKeon, Chairman; Julie J. Knutson, President and CEO, The Oklahoma Academy Town Hall Participant: Please note… While you may know a The Oklahoma Academy great deal, a small amount Town Hall 2011 has the or nothing on economic right issue topic at the development, you will be most opportune time, severely disadvantaged if and with your focused you do not prepare yourself involvement, the best properly for the Town Hall group of participants discussions. representing Oklahoma’s diverse population. Tom McKeon Julie Knutson You are charged with Chairman President and CEO “participating” in the Town The Town Hall will Hall, not just sitting. address economic “This book may seem big… okay, it is! You are given an development, not as it has But read it in segments. Parcel it out excellent opportunity always been approached, within your schedule. That’s why we get to listen actively, but as it must be it to you a month prior to the Town Hall!” share your thoughts considered to effectively and concerns, and move Oklahoma collaboratively build into a place of national and global marketplace with your fellow participants a set of findings and importance. recommendations that dramatically change the course of action for the better in the economic The Academy Board of Directors selected this development landscape for Oklahoma. Others will topic June 2010 from a list of important issues be relying upon you and your fellow participants provided from a survey of Academy members and to have done your part, played your role to the nonmembers – business and community leaders, maximum. educators, chamber executives and members, leadership groups, legislators, agency leaders and You cannot do that if you haven’t read this more. Governor Fallin was elected in November background resource document and the 2010 and one of the first steps she took upon taking Governor’s Task Force Report prior to the the oath of office was to name a Task Force on opening of the 2011 Town Hall! Economic Development and Job Creation. The success of any Town Hall is dependent upon Several Academy Board members and regular the preparedness of its participants. You will hear members are serving on this task force. It has been some excellent plenary session speakers; you will working under the leadership of Bob Sullivan, have excellent Panel Discussion Sessions. You an Academy Board member. The Academy and have the opportunity to “knock the socks off” the Task Force are sharing information, working how we strategize, how we set the entrepreneurial in tandem if you will. The resulting work of the environment, how we change our approach and Governor’s Task Force on Economic Development thinking to bring advantageous economic growth is being provided to you along with the background to all parts of Oklahoma. The Town Hall is work, resource articles and research in this document. but it is by no means ominous! Lively discussions Both are to prepare you for your work October 23 and meeting new people make this a true “one of a through 26 at Quartz Mountain Resort. kind” experience. You will have fun! Developing the Oklahoma Economy 4 © 2011 The Oklahoma Academy Town Hall Pointers for your reading… This book may seem big… okay, it is! But read it in segments. Parcel it out within your schedule. That’s why we get it to you a month prior to the Town Hall! The document required thousands of hours contributed by scores of Oklahomans to complete. The Research and Design Team volunteered to secure the authors and design the book. By the way, some of the authors they approached for one reason or another chose not to contribute. You will note we have no designated article on common education for example. This is not for lack of asking. As you can tell by the size of the book, most authors were compliant! The book is provided to give you the scope of the topic, the breadth and depth. It is not intended as the “be all and end all” on economic development. Please keep this in mind! Okay, get to work! Get prepared! Take some notes --- questions you may want to ask; issues and ideas the reading may prompt you to think of! Be ready for Town Hall ‘cause we will be ready to welcome you to a great experience! © 2011 The Oklahoma Academy Town Hall 5 Developing the Oklahoma Economy Developing the Oklahoma Economy 6 © 2011 The Oklahoma Academy Town Hall FOREWORD TOWN HALL THEME: This Town Hall is to develop policies and methods that will accelerate economic prosperity in Oklahoma’s economy – with emphasis on the private economic sector. Areas of focus will be on generating practical ideas that may be implemented to increase the attraction and availability of capital; optimize investment; increase productivity; expand quality employment; and grow the personal earnings of Oklahomans. THIS BOOK: Some call this our “research document”. That is somewhat one-dimensional. This book is really many things. It contains original research, essays, reprint of helpful popular media articles, tables of data and charts, interviews - and even a cartoon or two. WHAT’S MISSING?: There are two subjects that we know are missing and wish they were not. One is public infrastructure. We did not try to tackle it because - frankly - it was just too big for us. Yet, public infrastructure is so important. The site selection survey we present will show that. The second missing topic is Education. We have materials from the Oklahoma CareerTech System. But we were unable to secure the collaboration of Oklahoma’s K-12 and Higher Education establishments. It is what it is. OKLAHOMA ACADEMY RESEARCH DESIGN & PRODUCTION TEAM Paul Bickford is the sales and engineering manager for Cherokee Data Solutions of Claremore, OK, and a member of the Oklahoma Academy Board. James Collard, PHD, is the current Director of Strategic Planning and Economic Development for the Citizen Potawatomi Nation in Shawnee. Prior to joining CPN he served for many years as a city manager and as an executive in the environmental services industry. Jim is an Oklahoma Academy Board member and has attended four previous Town Halls. Martha Gregory is a professional researcher, instructor and business consultant. She has been with Tulsa City-County Library over 30 years, during which time she served as director of its Economic Development Information Center and is currently coordinator of Research Wizard, a fee-based service of the library. She has been a member of the Academy for four years. Mickey Hepner, PhD is the Dean of the College of Business Administration at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. Dr. Hepner is an experienced member of the Oklahoma Academy Board. Craig Knutson has been an Academy member since 1985 and on the Board of Directors since 1995. He has served on numerous committees over the past 25 years and is co-chair of the Town Hall Research Committee and Town Hall Planning Committee. He is currently Chief of Staff at Oklahoma City University, father of three grown adults and resides with his wife, Julie, in Norman. Michael Lapolla is a former faculty member at the OU Health Sciences Center, a long time Academy Board member, and eleven year veteran of the Town Hall Research Design and Production workgroup. He currently assists the George Kaiser Family Foundation. He is a resident of Tulsa. Deidre D. Myers is the director of Policy, Research and Economic Analysis at the OK Department of Commerce. She is a returned Peace Corps volunteer, a four time Town Hall participant and rookie on the Oklahoma Academy board, and an avid consumer of data - from economics to fantasy football. © 2011 The Oklahoma Academy Town Hall 7 Developing the Oklahoma Economy DEVELOPING THE OKLAHOMA ECONOMY The Oklahoma Academy Tom McKeon, Chairman; Julie J. Knutson, President and CEO, The Oklahoma Academy ..............................................4 Section 1 Warming Up...........................................................................................................................................................