OADC works on front lines for growth, development

A community meeting attended by members and local leadership, was held July 31st at the East Central Electric Co-op building to discuss Okmulgee’s participation in the TOP program.

TOP or Targeted Opportunity Program (TOP) is funded by the US Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration and administered by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.

The morning meeting consisted of a presentation given by QUEST Site Solutions, a company that ‘utilizes its expertise to assist economic development organizations prepare for the challenges of attracting and retaining capital investment and employment opportunities’ with a question and answer session afterwards. A tour of sites available in Okmulgee, and presentations by local school representatives, business leaders and utility experts were given during the p.m. session.

Deb Marshall, Assistant Executive Director of OADC, gave a brief overview regarding the purpose of this past Monday’s community meeting.

TOP was created to help Oklahoma rural communities identify industrial site capabilities, site gaps and limitations, conduct competitive capability assessments and make recommendations for investment in order to ensure that the community is able to compete in the national marketplace for industrial businesses.

The OADC was offered an opportunity to participate in this program in July 2023 and selected Quest Site Solutions out of Greenville SC. We completed over 30 pages of information on the site, infrastructure, community, utilities, etc to QSS which allowed them to do a desktop analysis that led up to the 7/31 Site Visit.

NOTE: In the current competitive marketplace, industrial clients are expediting their start-up or expansion timelines to move quickly. That makes it imperative for communities to have industrial property that is ‘client ready’ (also known as ‘shovel ready’).

A ‘client ready’ industrial site means that all utility infrastructure is available at the site, that due diligence is complete (which can include a Wetlands Study, EPA Phase studies, hydrology, etc) and interior infrastructure and a development plan. This will allow site location and business decision makers to meet tight deadlines to expedite design decisions, construction and permitting and keeping costs in check. If a community wishes to be competitive for such projects, having ‘client ready’ property is imperative.

Economic development refers to the deliberate and sustained efforts undertaken by governments, businesses, and communities to enhance and improve the overall economic well-being, prosperity, and quality of life within a region or country.

QUEST Site Solutions presenter, Lindsey Cannon states, “When we talk about economic development, we used to talk about the three legs of the stool and that would be new businesses, business retention and expansion … It’s not just keeping the existing industry happy. It’s not just about recruiting new industry. Now it’s about talent retention, housing, entrepreneurship, and a wide variety of other areas. So there’s a lot going on when we put it under the economic development basket. And all of these are equally important.”

According to the Oklahoma Commerce, with TOP this happens in two phases:

Required Scope of Work for Site and Infrastructure Evaluations Phase 1 – Community and Site Assessment Each community is vetted for readiness to recruit target industries to include gap identification.

Task 1: Project Mobilization and Development of Project Team and Stakeholders.

Task 2: Alignment Meeting with Oklahoma Department of Commerce and Local Project Team.

Task 3: Community Rollout Meetings for project introduction and awareness for community leadership.

Task 4: Two Levels of Desktop Analysis and Evaluations to include: community and site asset mapping and readiness assessment for economic development recruitment of jobs and investment.

Task 5: Boots-on-the-Ground Community and Site Evaluation to include:

• In-Person Site Visits and Assessment • Readiness Level

• Infrastructure Gaps

• Industry Prioritization

Phase 2 – Leverage the Gap Assessment

The evaluations continue for each community and should include competitive capability assessment, identification of needed site improvements, feasibility of mitigation, funding “ask” package and industry attraction strategy (including potential program redirection).

Task 1: Site Improvement Cost Benefit and Feasibility Analysis:

• Work with communities to develop time and cost estimates for site gaps.

• Utilize a cost/benefit analysis to identify feasible next steps to site development.

• Build a quantifiable funding request package based on identified gaps and cost analysis to solicit additional funding from state and federal sources for site improvements that have been vetted via this process.

Task 2: Develop Industry Attraction Strategy per Community Site – Develop Target Industry Attraction Plan to include:

• Target Industry Audience/Markets

• Guide for Economic Development Project Managers and Sales Teams

• Target Industry Technical Sales Message and Materials Information courtesy of 2022 Targeted Opportunities Program.

-Being selected to participate in Oklahoma’s Targeted Opportunity Program (TOP) bestows a community with a transformative opportunity to revitalize and elevate its economic and social landscape. The benefits are profound and far-reaching, encompassing both immediate advantages and long-term growth prospects. Through OKTOP’s strategic allocation of incentives, grants, and resources, selected communities gain a substantial advantage in attracting investments, fostering entrepreneurship, and generating employment opportunities.

This infusion of resources not only accelerates local economic growth but also promotes innovation and collaboration, positioning the community as a hub for cutting-edge industries and initiatives. Furthermore, OKTOP’s tailored approach takes into account the specific needs and challenges of each community, enabling targeted solutions for issues like infrastructure development, workforce training, and environmental sustainability.

As a result, being a part of the Oklahoma Targeted Opportunity Program doesn’t just offer a chance for economic advancement; it sets the stage for holistic progress, inclusivity, and the creation of a more prosperous and resilient community for generations to come.