Q&A WITH DENNIS PRUITT ON THE FUTURE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN OKC
around 26,000 jobs. What we’ve seen is that FDI often follows trade. When you’re engaged in global commerce, you’re naturally more visible to international investors. Today, about 65,000 Oklahomans work for international companies. While we don’t have the OKC-specific number, it’s safe to say a large share is concentrated in our region. That’s why we’re focused on expanding FDI—it creates jobs, drives innovation and deepens our international partnerships. Q: With uncertainty in the global economy, how do you keep the momentum going? A: Uncertainty is always there—elections, tariffs, policy changes. What we try to do is focus on what we can control. That means planning ahead, being organized and always improving. For example, we’re working on a site readiness plan focused on retail, industrial, entertainment and redevelopment corridors; the city is developing a Downtown Improvement Plan; Visit OKC has its own strategic plan. These overlapping efforts help us present a unified, prepared front. Q: What role does workforce and business retention play in your strategy? A: It’s huge. We can’t just focus on recruiting new businesses—we need to support the companies already here. They’ve made long-term investments in OKC, and we want them to thrive. Workforce development is part of that. We’re committed to listening to existing employers and addressing their needs. When new prospects visit, they want to hear that existing businesses are happy. That’s the best endorsement we can get. We also need to find ways to strengthen public- private partnerships, especially as construction costs rise. Other communities are finding creative solutions, and we can too. Q: What’s the message you want the audience to hear most clearly right now? A: Be involved. Stay engaged. Economic development is about being ready—having sites prepared, partnerships in place and a unified voice. We’ve got the assets, we’ve got the people and we’ve got the momentum. Now we have to work together to take it further. Prepared communities win. Let’s focus on who we are: a no- barriers, open-range economy. We welcome investment, growth and opportunity. Let’s keep building the OKC that companies and people want to be part of.
I focused on foreign direct investment and business development for nearly 17 years. What brought me to OKC was not just the region’s momentum, but the opportunity to be part of a uniquely structured economic development model—where the Chamber leads at a regional level, which in many places is handled by a separate economic development association. That’s a rare and exciting opportunity. Q: What’s been your top priority as you settle into the role? A: One consistent goal I’ve had from the start is getting to know the team. We’ve got 14 outstanding professionals who work across business attraction, business retention and economic research. We’re also focused on four priority industries: film, biosciences, aerospace and destination retail. Every day, we’re positioning OKC for both domestic and international investment while reinforcing the industries already here. A strong local economy is what makes us a magnet for future growth. Q: You often talk about regional thinking. Why is that important? A: Companies don’t look at states—they look at regions. Site selection consultants are thinking across county and state lines. That’s why we have to think regionally across our strong 10-county area. We need to ask: Do we have the product? Do we have the sites, infrastructure and rail access needed to compete? Manufacturing is going to keep growing in the U.S., and I’m a big advocate for making sure we’re ready—not just with mega sites, but with a diverse portfolio of industrial properties. It also helps that we don’t work in silos here. Unlike some communities, we’ve built a collaborative ecosystem with the city, the county and regional partners all pulling in the same direction. Q: How would you describe OKC’s economic development model compared to others? A: There are many different models out there—some are city-run, some county-led and others are public- private partnerships. What makes OKC different is that our Chamber functions as the regional economic development organization. We lead the coordination for a 10-county area, but we also rely on incredible partners like the city and county. It’s a model built on trust and alignment—critical ingredients for success.
Dennis Pruitt, senior vice president of economic development at the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, brings more than two decades of experience across local, regional and international markets. From city planning in Kansas to foreign investment strategy in Missouri, his background is rooted in collaboration, preparation and results.
DENNIS PRUITT Senior Vice President of Economic Dev.
Q: Let’s talk about some of the region’s unique assets. What stands out to you? A: I often refer to the “Four T’s”: Tinker, Tribes, Texas and Tight. Tinker Air Force Base is a cornerstone of our economy—an innovation hub with thousands of jobs. Our tribal nations are strong partners with global reach, and I think we’re just scratching the surface of what we can do together. Then there’s Texas. A strong Texas helps raise the visibility of the Southern Plains overall, and that benefits us. Plus, they can’t handle all the growth alone— there’s opportunity in being a regional alternative. Tight is about collaboration because economic development is a team sport. We only win these projects when our partners, members and investors work together. Q: What does the project pipeline look like right now? A: We currently have 108 active projects in the pipeline—62 of them are manufacturing-related. There’s a misconception that economic development is just about incentives. But companies want to locate in economies that are growing and vibrant. Right now, we have 14 aerospace projects, seven shared services projects and seven data center projects underway. We’re also hearing from site selectors that the MAPS program is a differentiator. It signals that OKC invests in itself—and that makes us more attractive. Q: You’ve emphasized foreign direct investment (FDI). Why is that such a priority? A: In 2024, Oklahoma exported $7.7 billion in goods—a record year. More than 3,000 companies here are exporting internationally, and those exports support
Pruitt sat down with the VeloCity team to share how his past shaped his vision for OKC, what makes this region competitive and how the Chamber is preparing for the city’s next era of growth. Q: You’ve had a long career in economic development. How did that path begin, and what led you to OKC? A: I started my professional career in city planning, then transitioned into economic development. I spent most of my time with the Missouri Partnership, where
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