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APR. 2023 • OKCCHAMBER.COM

$255 MILLION INVESTMENT COMING TO OKLAHOMA CITY’S AEROSPACE INDUSTRY

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7 InternOKC returns June 27 12 Impact your workforce at the Chamber’s professional development conference 14 Chamber works with Alliance to help businesses recover from pandemic 15 Coliseum groundbreaking ushers in MAPS 4

IN THIS ISSUE:

$255 MILLION INVESTMENT COMING TO OKLAHOMA CITY’S AEROSPACE INDUSTRY

Following several years of work by the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, Aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney has announced plans for a $255 million sustainment center in Oklahoma City. The 845,000-square-foot facility will serve as an operations hub for all Pratt & Whitney military engines. Chamber President and CEO Christy Gillenwater said the organization is eager to continue its relationship with Pratt & Whitney moving forward as well. “We have been honored to partner with Pratt & Whitney and coordinate the Oklahoma City team as they developed this project,” Gillenwater said. “We appreciate the work of our additional partners, including the Oklahoma Industries Authority and Alliance for Economic Development for their work on the site acquisition.” The aerospace industry is a major component of the regional economy. More than 120,000 Oklahomans are employed in aerospace and defense. It is the state’s second-largest sector with an economic impact approaching $44 billion annually. Rendering of the $255 million sustainment center that will serve as an operation hub for all Pratt & Whitney military engines. Photo courtesy Pratt & Whitney

“Tinker [Air Force Base] is a cornerstone of Oklahoma City’s economy and culture, and supporting companies that support the base is important to our entire city. Pratt & Whitney’s investment in our city, and in the jobs added with this new facility, is significant and appreciated,” said Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt applauded the investment into the state’s “growing international dominance in the aerospace and defense industry.” Stitt said the facility will help strengthen Oklahoma’s position as the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capital of the world. “I am thrilled for Pratt & Whitney to continue to invest and expand in our state.” The planned investment into the Oklahoma City site will increase its MRO capabilities as programs expand, serving as the only site capable of performing all F135 power module scope levels. “Last year, the team achieved record output for the F117, F119 and F135 Heavy Maintenance Centers. This investment in a new facility will further expand our capabilities and reaffirm our commitment to our customers for years to come,” said Jill Albertelli, president of Pratt & Whitney Military Engines.

“We are grateful for the support provided by our partner, the United States Air Force, and by the state of Oklahoma, and the local community.” Congressman Tom Cole (R-Moore) said the investment will play a significant role in rapidly delivering the F135 engine core upgrade to the F-35 fleet, “which is critical to ensuring all the services have the capabilities they need to fight an advancing threat starting in 2028.” Part of a global sustainment network, the Oklahoma City site works with other sites in Australia, Japan, Netherlands and Norway. U.S. locations like Marine Corp Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina and Naval Air Station Jacksonville and West Palm Beach in Florida also coordinate with the facility. Pratt & Whitney’s Oklahoma City F135 Maintenance Center, activated in 2014 and performs most of the fighter engine’s maintenance, recently producing 61% of the entire sustainment network’s total power module output. The facility’s upcoming jobs will include salaries upwards of $80,000, primarily in engineering and procurement. The current Oklahoma City site employs more than 450 full-time workers and an additional 450 partner contractors. The new facility will consolidate six existing sites into two locations: Pratt & Whitney’s Oklahoma City Sustainment Center and Tinker’s Air Logistics Complex. Front view of Pratt & Whitney’s new sustainment facility planned for OKC. Rendering courtesy Pratt & Whitney

Pratt & Whitney’s planned investment into the Oklahoma City site will increase MRO capabilities as programs expand. Photo courtesy Pratt & Whitney

Nursing at OU Health means I pick a schedule that works for me.

Safia Franks, RN Cardiology

We Make a Difference for Our Patients. Nursing at OU Health means you have flexibility in your schedule through innovative programs – created by nurses and made for nurses. We are dedicated to creating and fostering a strong culture of collaboration and patients-first mentality in our hospitals and clinics. We know that when you put the patients first, everything else falls into place.

We’ve recently launched new nursing positions and programs with competitive pay rates, including:

• OU Health Weekend Position (Work 2 shifts, get paid for 3) • OU Health Travel at Home Position • OU Health Education Accelerator Program

Apply today by visiting OUHealth.com/Nursing. Job opportunities are available in all areas of adult and pediatric care, oncology and more, in hospital and clinical care settings, including OU Health University of Oklahoma Medical Center, Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health, OU Health Edmond Medical Center and OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center. As an integrated academic health system, interested nurses can practice at OU Health and seek a faculty appointment at the OU Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing.

LEADERSHIP NOTES

PRATT & WHITNEY ANNOUNCMENT A PRODUCT OF RELATIONSHIPS AND REPUTATION What an exciting day it was last month when Pratt & Whitney announced they are investing $255 million in a new 845,000-square- foot sustainment facility. This center will serve as a hub for depot operations for the company’s military engines, which power several aircraft stationed or maintained at Tinker. The decision to expand operations at Tinker is a testament to the strong bond Oklahoma City forged over the years with the Department of Defense and the prime contractors. This project developed over several years of working with the company to understand how Oklahoma City could best align with their strategic goals. Every economic development project differs by timeline, but they all thrive on relationships. Announcements like this one take hard work, patience and, above all else, partnership. The Chamber is fortunate to have partners like the City of Oklahoma City and The Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City, whose work on the site for this project, former water trust land, was fundamental to our success. The aerospace industry is recognized as the second largest industry in Oklahoma, thanks in large part to the nearly 300 aerospace companies in and around Oklahoma City. With almost 45,000 workers and an estimated $7.2 billion in goods and services produced annually from Oklahoma City companies, this economic engine we call aerospace continues to soar to even greater heights in OKC.

CHRISTY GILLENWATER President & CEO

READ CHRISTY’S VELOCITYOKC ONLINE STORY OF THE MONTH

CONTENTS

“Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma celebrates 60th anniversary season” VELOCITYOKC.COM/ CHRISTYSPICK

CALENDAR (Events are subject to change. Consult okcchamber.com/events for the most recent updates.)

APRIL 19 Chamber Forum 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Petroleum Club

100 N. Broadway, 35th Floor okcchamber.com/aprilforum APRIL 25 Chamber Connection 8:30 to 10 a.m. OKC Chamber Offices 123 Park Ave., Second Floor Conference Room MAY 2 Elevate 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Oklahoma City Convention Center 100 Mick Cornett Dr. okcelevate.com MAY 10 State of Health 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum 1700 NE 63rd St. okcchamber.com/statehealth MAY 17 100 N. Broadway, 35th Floor okcchamber.com/mayforum MAY 30 Chamber Connection 3 to 4:30 p.m. Credit Union House of Oklahoma 631 E. Hill St. JUNE 14 Chamber Forum 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Petroleum Club

Building a Culture of Trust topic of April Chamber Forum

In partnership with the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum’s Better Conversations series, attendees at the April Chamber Forum will hear about the lives forever impacted by the Oklahoma City Bombing and discuss Oklahoma City’s culture of trust, how we’ve developed it and how we will continue building on it. This Chamber Forum is in partnership with the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum’s Better Conversations series. Participating in the panel discussion will be: • Craig Freeman, City Manager, City of Oklahoma City • Christy Gillenwater, President & CEO, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber • Joyce Henderson, Retired Oklahoma City Educator and Principal • Bob Johnson, Founding Chairman, Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation and Memorial Trust John Kennedy, chair of the Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation, will moderate the panel discussion. The April Chamber Forum will be held from

CHAMBER CONNECTION

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Petroleum Club

Upcoming Event Tuesday, April 25 | 8:30 to 10 a.m. Greater Oklahoma City Chamber | 123 Park Ave. Second floor conference room No cost to attend! Want to find out more about your company’s investment in the Chamber? Attend Chamber Connection April 25 and learn more about the Chamber’s key initiatives while also meeting other members. You will walk away with a better understanding of the Chamber’s role in Oklahoma City’s business community, including: • Economic development efforts • Government relations activities • Community involvement programs • Involvement opportunities To register, email Suzette Ellison Jordan at sellison@okcchamber.com.

Downtown OKC, which is located on the 35th floor of BancFirst Tower. The cost to attend the Chamber Forum is $45 for Chamber members and $55 for nonmembers. To register for the Forum, visit okcchamber.com/ aprilforum. Special thanks to the Presenting Sponsor Cox Communications and the Corporate Sponsor ADG | Blatt.

Chamber Forum 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Petroleum Club

100 N. Broadway, 35th Floor okcchamber.com/juneforum

INTERNOKC RETURNS JUNE 27

Oklahoma City business leaders will have an opportunity to make one-on-one visits with Oklahoma’s congressional delegation and other key defense leaders as part of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber’s annual DC Visit June 21 and June 22. Each year, the Chamber strives to plan a visit to DC that aligns with our members’ needs and the goals of our organization. The DC Visit includes afternoon briefings on day one with invited Sens. James Lankford and Markwayne Mullin, and Reps. Tom Cole, Frank Lucas, Josh Brecheen and Kevin Hern. A reception on Capitol Hill with various other invited federal and military officials is scheduled that evening. On day two, attendees will get to attend morning sessions with federal officials and other government leaders that cover specific areas of interests on issues critical to our community, including military defense and infrastructure. Registration is now open for InternOKC, the region’s premier development event for young professionals. This year’s event is scheduled for June 27 at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, followed by an after-hours networking event in July. The program is customized for interns working in Oklahoma City this summer. Attendees will gain valuable tools to help them transition from college graduate to young professional. They’ll also being to grow their network through educational and social events. Lee Copeland, director of talent and business growth at the Greater OKC Chamber, said the training is based on three areas of focus: • Reinforcing professional behaviors or specific habits that foster positive outcomes. • Navigating networks and creating relationships. • Developing a mindset of lifelong learning. REGISTRATION UNDERWAY FOR CHAMBER’S ANNUAL DC VISIT JUNE 21-22

If you would like to join some of your fellow Chamber members for this opportunity to connect with various federal and elected officials – and each other – registrations are being accepted now through June 1. The registration fee is $900 and includes one night’s hotel stay, official events, most meals and transportation to and from programmed events. Air travel to and from Washington is not included, giving attendees the option to extend their stay for additional business in the DC area. To register for the DC Visit or view the agenda, visit okcchamber.com/dc. Thanks to Presenting Sponsor American Fidelity Assurance Company. Chamber members and $250 for nonmembers. If your company does not currently operate an internship program, but is interested in exploring the opportunity, Copeland and the rest of the InternOKC team would love to visit with you. You can email him at lcopeland@okcchamber.com. Thank you to Presenting Sponsor Love’s Country Stores. Employers interested in enrolling their interns for the program can do so by visiting abetterlifeokc.com/ summerintern. The registration fee per intern is $150 for

One thing was clear for Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt during the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber’s State Spotlight held recently at Oklahoma Christian University: Education, workforce development and transportation infrastructure are high on his priority list this legislative session. Stitt took to the stage in a fireside chat with Chamber Chair Sean Trauschke where they talked about the governor’s business priorities for the upcoming year. Also appearing on stage during the hour-and-a-half program were Brent Kisling, executive director of the Oklahoma Dept. of Commerce, and Elizabeth Pollard, the state’s secretary of science and innovation. The pair, along with Chamber Vice Chair of Economic Development Kent Shortridge who served as moderator, briefly discussed business development, commerce, workforce and entrepreneurship in central Oklahoma. Stitt expressed his desire for Oklahoma to be a top-ten state where people would want to live, work and raise a family. To make that happen, education must get better across Oklahoma, he said, which involves recruiting and retaining the very best teachers in Oklahoma and elsewhere. He noted the request this session for a $2,500 pay raise for teachers. “We have to set the right culture and promote that culture because the magic happens when we have the STITT SHARES PRIORITIES FOR UPCOMING YEAR DURING CHAMBER’S STATE SPOTLIGHT

best teachers in the classroom,” Stitt said. Transforming Oklahoma into a top-ten state in education, he said, would also require the state to provide more opportunities for high school students who may not want to attend a college or university. “I would love for every single kid to go to higher ed, but that is just not reality,” Stitt said, emphasizing the importance of the state’s CareerTech system and developing specialty high schools such as the Oklahoma Aviation Academy in Norman, Okla. “When you are a junior in high school, if you want to become an aviation mechanic or want to become a pilot, you can go to this specialty high school in Norman,” Stitt said. Norman School District officials envision that the academy will grow significantly over the next four to five years, serving as many as 600 students annually. Norman voters recently approved a $354 million school bond issue, which included $32 million for a new facility to house the academy. “I think it’s pretty simple that we need our higher education or CareerTech or common ed looking at the jobs of tomorrow, working with industries and then designing their programs to build around those needs,” Stitt said.

Stitt also stressed that transportation infrastructure plays a huge role if Oklahoma is going to achieve top- ten status nationally, specifically the completion of ACCESS (Advancing and Connecting Communities and Economies Safely Statewide) Oklahoma, the 15- year, $5 billion plan to develop a highly effective and viable state turnpike system. The plan includes widening Turner Turnpike to six lanes all the way from Oklahoma City to Tulsa as well as constructing various outer loops around the Oklahoma City metro. Under the ACCESS Oklahoma Plan, Stitt said, Oklahoma should have 100 miles of reconstructed roads and 53 miles of new roads by 2037. “The big picture here is staying ahead of the curve and making sure our commute times are a competitive advantage for Oklahoma versus the 45-minute

commute times that you have in Dallas-Fort Worth right now,” he said. During the later discussions, focused on workforce development, Kisling said his agency has been working on a talent attraction campaign over the last two years that would include renting billboard space in Orange County, Calif. and in the Bay Area of northern California, as well as in Chicago and Washington state, the biggest states currently for net migration into Oklahoma. “We asked for $20 million this year for the campaign. Ten million of that would be for us to go tell our story. The other $10 million would be a partnership with businesses across the state to help offset relocation expenses for a legacy company here in the state to try and bring in that new CFO or that new senior engineer from another state,” Kisling said.

LEARN ABOUT THE ANNUAL CHECKUP FOR THE REGION’S HEALTH CARE LANDSCAPE DURING STATE OF HEALTH EVENT

Health care is a key economic driver of the regional economy with the health care and education super- sectors combined accounting for nearly 88,000 jobs in Oklahoma — total of 14% of the state’s workforce. Participating in the panel will be: • Stacy Coleman, President, SSM Health St. Anthony - Midwest City • Jim Gebhart, President, Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City • Dr. Richard Lofgren, President & CEO, OU Health • Timothy Pehrson, President & CEO, INTEGRIS Health State of Health will also feature Chamber-member exhibitors aligned with the health care industry. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with those exhibitors before and after the scheduled luncheon. Individual tickets are $60 for members and $85 for nonmembers. Sponsor tables of eight with additional recognition are available for $1,600. Exhibitor tables are available on a first-come, first- served basis at a cost of $300 for members and $600 for nonmembers. Each booth includes one skirted table and two chairs. To learn more about State of Health, including purchasing individual tickets, sponsoring a table or purchasing an exhibit table, call 405-297-8921 or visit okcchamber.com/statehealth. Special thanks to presenting sponsor MidFirst Bank and host sponsor OU Health.

Dr. Lynda Chin, president and CEO of Apricity Health, and a renowned cancer genomic scientist and a leader in application of technologies, AI/ML and big data in medicine, will be the keynote speaker at the Chamber’s annual State of Health event on May 10 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

LYNDA CHIN

In her keynote address, “The Landscape and Future of Digital Medicine,” Dr. Chin will discuss precision medicine, barriers to its progress and the challenges that must be met to facilitate better outcomes for patients. Building evidence and trust is key, Dr. Chin explains, as is developing an infrastructure that allows more clinicians to take part in the process. Also during the event, local health care leaders will discuss the impact of the past year on their organizations and the industry outlook for 2023 and beyond.

Congratulations to Chamber members on their recent Grand Openings! To see the schedule of upcoming Grand Openings or subscribe to the Grand Openings calendar, visit okcchamber.com/grandopenings. GRAND OPENINGS

Living Spaces 13502 N. May Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73120 Persimmon Hill Gift Shop at the National Cowboy & Western

Not Your Average Joe Metropolitan Library System – Downtown Library 300 Park Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73102

Heritage Museum 1700 NE 63rd St. Oklahoma City, OK 73111

The Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau will now be known as Visit Oklahoma City. Visit Oklahoma City President Zac Craig said the change is based on industry trends and research. Craig is also hoping the change will reduce confusion that his staff operates the Oklahoma City Convention Center. The Visit Oklahoma City moniker isn’t unfamiliar as it’s been used on the organization’s website and social media platforms for several years. Now that name will be moved fully across all audiences. “This name transition unifies the brand across leisure, CVB TRANSITIONS TO VISIT OKLAHOMA CITY • American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials - April 10-14 - Oklahoma City Convention Center • 2023 Better Barrel Racing World Finals - April 20-23 - Oklahoma State Fairgrounds • Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon Health & Fitness Expo - April 28-29 - Oklahoma City Convention Center • US Rowing – Central Youth Rowing Championships - May 5-7 - Oklahoma River • Oklahoma Regional Volleyball Championships - May 6-7 - Oklahoma State Fairgrounds • USA Gymnastics – Men’s and Women’s Development Program National Championships - May 9-14 - Oklahoma City Convention Center • Big 12 Softball Championship - May 11-13 - USA Hall of Fame Stadium UPCOMING CONVENTIONS

convention, group and sports audiences, while also being recognizable by residents,” said Craig. “This change further supports us as we promote Oklahoma City as a first-class destination to all audiences.” The brand update also includes new logos for OKC Sports and OKC Insider, a new destination training program Visit Oklahoma City plans to roll out later this spring.

• International School of Hydrocarbon Measurement – 2023 Annual Convention - May 17-19 - Oklahoma City Convention Center • Community Transportation Association of America – 2023 Expo - May 21-24 - Oklahoma City Convention Center • Savannah Bananas - Banana Ball Tour - May 28-29 - Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark • NCAA Women’s College World Series - June 1-9 - USA Hall of Fame Stadium • Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association – 2023 Redbud Spectacular - June 2-11 - Oklahoma State Fairgrounds • National Reining Horse Association – 2023 National Reining Horse Derby - June 18-25 - Oklahoma State Fairgrounds • National Auctioneers Association - 2023 Annual Conference and Show - July 17-22 - Omni Oklahoma City Hotel • Team Dynamics – 2023 National Indian and Native American WIC Coalition Conference - July 25-28 - Omni Oklahoma City Hotel

IMPACT YOUR WORKFORCE AT THE CHAMBER’S PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

will provide practical tools to maximize your time with her keynote, “Meaningful Moments: How to Keep the Urgent from Hijacking What’s Important.” After a day of education, wind down and get connected to other professionals in the OKC business community at the closing reception. BREAKOUT SESSION PREVIEW ELEVATE YOUR BUSINESS How Brands Can Survive in the Complex, Crazy World of Digital Marketing Mike Koehler, Smirk New Media Digital marketing is getting more complex by the second in 2023. Business owners now have to deal with AI, TikTok and Twitter. In this session, you will learn how you can still succeed by boiling down your approach, voice and strategic focus. Skills like storytelling, empathy and knowing your customer still win the day. ELEVATE YOUR FUTURE Kicking it with Kindhearted Mentors: Finding Your Perfect Fit Jessica Martinez-Brooks, Metro Technology Center Mentorship is an important part of professional development. It can provide guidance, support and encouragement to help you reach your goals and achieve your full potential. Learn about specific organizations and events in OKC that may help you find your perfect mentor. ELEVATE YOUR MINDSET Sharpen the Saw: Self-Care & Self Renewal Michael Shellabarger, Love’s Travel Stops We live in a fast-paced world filled with far too many options, and you can often find yourself burning the candle at both ends. Sure, we usually get the job done, but not without an increase of anxiety, stress and/ or diminished quality of results. Inspired by Stephen Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” this session offers a strategy for “working smarter, not harder” by taking care of your greatest asset - yourself!

Designed to help your company provide professional development options to its employees—without having to send people out of the market—Elevate will take place on Tuesday, May 2, at the Oklahoma City Convention Center, with registration and a continental breakfast beginning at 8 a.m. Morning and afternoon breakout sessions will include education tracks for new managers, new employees, small business owners, entrepreneurs, salespeople and general sessions that will apply to everyone, no matter their career stage. Keynote speakers include lunch session speaker Emeka Nnaka, who is uniquely qualified to present life, its challenges and its opportunities from the perspective of someone who found strength through tremendous adversity. He will inspire all in attendance with his keynote, “Overcoming Adversity: My Personal Journey from Paralysis to Purpose.” Wrapping up the day will be Dale Wilsher, award-winning author and speaker, who

EMEKA NNAKA

DALE WILSHER

Elevate is designed to help your company provide professional development options to its employees – without having to send people out of the market to experience an excellent conference.

ELEVATE YOUR TEAM The Mindful Leader David McLaughlin, M.Ed, SHRM-SCP, Pendulum Coaching LLC Learn what mindful leaders look like and why we should want to be mindful leaders in today’s competitive and chaotic business climate. We will dive into the principles of mindfulness that apply to anyone trying to be more mindful and how they especially apply to those leading teams and organizations. ELEVATE YOUR INFLUENCE Inclusion Reimagined: The Truth About Inclusion in the Workplace Shalynne Jackson, City of Oklahoma City In this engaging presentation, participants will explore what Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) in the workplace is and isn’t and debunk common misconceptions. Yes, inclusion can be fun! And, no, I&D is not about reverse discrimination — everyone wins in inclusive, equitable environments! Gaining a better understanding of how I&D benefits the entire organization, participants will better understand their role in their organization’s I&D strategy, and how they play a critical part in creating an inclusive and equitable workplace for all.

Special thanks to Aspiration Sponsor OG&E. See the most updated list of sessions and speakers at okcelevate.com. REGISTRATION OPTIONS The Elevate experience is open to everyone, but Chamber members get a discounted conference registration for $250 per person or $200 per person for groups of three or more within the same company. Registration includes breakfast, lunch, all keynote speakers, four breakout sessions, morning and afternoon refreshments, and a pass to the Elevate closing reception. Chamber members that are nonprofit organizations will also receive a discounted rate of $200 per person or $160 per person for groups of three or more within the same organization. Businesses can also elevate their workforce with several ticket package options, including the Boost Package for $2,500 (10 tickets and sponsorship recognition), Uplift10 Sponsor package for $3,000 (10 tickets plus additional sponsorship recognition) or the Uplift20 Sponsor package for $4,000 (20 tickets and even more sponsorship recognition). To purchase tickets, view the schedule or for additional information, visit okcelevate.com.

Three years since COVID-19 forced local businesses to close their doors, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber is still working to help them recover. A big part of that mission is working with the Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City to administer funds received as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). CHAMBER WORKS WITH ALLIANCE TO HELP BUSINESSES RECOVER FROM PANDEMIC

providing residents with the opportunity to participate in the 21st century economy more fully.” For a small business or nonprofit to be eligible for ARPA funding, they must meet certain criteria. First, the business must be located within the city limits of Oklahoma City. Second, the business owner must also be able to show one of the following: the pandemic had a negative impact on their business, their organization is in a federally designated low-income area, or the business is at least 51% minority owned. Over 70% of the businesses participating in the ARPA programs are minority-owned small businesses. The Alliance did intentional outreach to minority communities and worked with key partners such as the Black Chamber, Latino Community Development Agency, Northeast Oklahoma City Renaissance, and the Asian Cultural District Association, to push out information about the programs. The OKC Rescue Program, operated by The Alliance, offers pandemic relief funding to small businesses and entrepreneurs geared toward things like technical assistance and façade and storefront improvements. Small businesses also have benefited from what is referred to as pandemic mitigation, meaning businesses can make certain physical improvements to their business location to help them respond to COVID-19. A good example of that is installing a drive-thru lane to increase sales.

The Alliance was asked to help with allocating $20 million of ARPA funds to small businesses, non-profits, minority-owned small businesses and workforce development programs. The Alliance worked with the Chamber’s Economic Development division on an economic resiliency analysis of Oklahoma City. A key finding from the report is that minority-owned small businesses are underrepresented in the business community relative to their proportion in the population. The Alliance used the information from the report to guide their efforts. Their goal is to increase support for those who historically have not been able to get access to resources and funding. Jeff Seymour, the Chamber’s executive vice president for economic development, serves in an advisory role for several Alliance-related projects. “We have appreciated working in partnership with the Alliance, City and numerous others to bring to fruition programming that continues to respond to the post-pandemic realities of Oklahoma City and meet the community where they are related to economic capacity, resiliency and need,” said Seymour. “We know that as Oklahoma City evolves, our work must center on building capacity for small/diverse businesses and

The Alliance also contracts with a number of partners to run several business accelerator programs designed to help small businesses and entrepreneurs find capital, increase sales, and improve business processes. Selected participants also receive advice on strategy, proposals, finance, human resources, marketing and more. To learn more about these and other programs, visit the Alliance website at okcrescueprogram.com.

Construction work is now underway on a new coliseum to replace the Jim Norick Arena at the OKC Fairgrounds. A Feb. 22 groundbreaking ceremony for the coliseum marked the beginning of MAPS 4, Oklahoma City’s latest wave of renaissance projects. The groundbreaking was the culmination of many years’ worth of work by the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. Knowing the arena is such a robust economic engine for the region, Chamber staff lobbied for a new facility to be included on the MAPS 4 ballot in December 2019. “With the arena playing such a major role in our economy, and horse shows in particular, we knew we had to do whatever we could to protect that,” said Zac Craig, president of Visit Oklahoma City (formerly called the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau), a division of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. The current arena, which opened in 1965, brings in more than a million visitors a year. Many of those are involved in equine and livestock events, some of which last as long as three weeks. Direct spending from arena visitors is more than $200 million a year. “We have folks that come here [for those events] who literally buy RVs. They buy furniture down the street at Mathis Brothers and other places before they leave and go back home. So, it just shows you how incredible this new coliseum is going to be to our community,” Craig said. Craig said Chamber staff worked with City of Oklahoma City and State Fair officials as they determined design needs for the new facility. “We’re not experts on horse shows, but we know who those experts are. So, we were able to facilitate those connections and get all the necessary people together to make sure this coliseum would be the absolute best it could be,” said Craig. When the project’s price tag, initially estimated at $82 million, increased to $144 million, the Chamber went back to work. Chamber Government Relations & Policy Senior Vice President Mark VanLandingham worked with officials at Oklahoma State Fair Inc. to close the funding FAIRGROUNDS COLISEUM GROUNDBREAKING USHERS IN MAPS 4

gap. One solution was an allocation from the State’s Progressing Rural Economic Prosperity (PREP) fund. VanLandingham and his team helped Oklahoma State Fair Inc. submit the request. Then, the Chamber made multiple presentations to legislators, detailing how a new coliseum could benefit not just Oklahoma City, but rural communities as well. The effort worked. The Oklahoma Legislature awarded the project $20 million in PREP funds. About half of that money will be used to build a 60,000-square- foot connector between the new coliseum and the main barn. It will allow equine and livestock to safely move from their stalls to the show arena. The remaining PREP funds will go toward an educational facility in the coliseum and multiple infrastructure needs. The rest of the deficit will be made up by excess MAPS 3 funds, Oklahoma City’s hotel/motel tax and an allotment from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). “This was really a team effort,” said VanLandingham. “City officials, state officials, Chamber staff, we all worked together to get this across the finish line, and I’m really happy we did. The impact on our community will be tremendous.” The coliseum is designed to accommodate up to 7,000 seats. It will have a lounge, suites, a full-service restaurant and several upscale concession areas. The facility also comes with a sophisticated catwalk system, an attractive feature for those bringing concerts, shows and other types of entertainment to Oklahoma City. The unnamed coliseum is expected to open in the spring of 2025. The Jim Norick Arena will stay open until that time.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Businesses who join the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber are part of the largest coalition of businesses in the state and make the Chamber’s work in the community possible. Each member level is identified on the listing below.

CORE The ALS Association-Oklahoma Nonprofit / Service Agencies Ms. Christy Galyean.......................(281) 642-3116 P.O.Box 7771 Moore, OK 73153-1771 www.als.org CORE Dr. Nancy B. Anthony Individual Members Dr. Nancy B. Anthony.................(405) 650-8641 3605 N. McKinley P.O. Box 54672 Oklahoma City, OK 73154-1672 CORE Arthritis Foundation Foundations Nonprofit / Service Agencies Ms. Shelly Jordan.........................(405) 212-4703 3409 Still Moon Circle Edmond, OK 73013-6824 www.arthritis.org CORE Bar Osteria LLC dba Bar Cicchetti Bars / Taverns Restaurants Ms. Abigail Webb.......................(405) 795-5295 121 NE 2nd St. Oklahoma City, OK 73104-2203 barcicchettiok.com CORE Bradford Place Apartments Apartments Ms. Penny Jackson.....................(405) 421-3435 613 N. Davis Oklahoma City, OK 73127-6380 www.belmontmgt.com CORE Cleats for Kids Nonprofit / Service Agencies Ms. Stacy McDaniel.....................(405) 418-4889 720 W. Wilshire Blvd., Suite 120 Oklahoma City, OK 73116 www.cleatsforkids.org CORE El Coyote Restaurants Ms. Abigail Webb.........................(405) 849-5218 925 W. Britton Road Oklahoma City, OK 73114 elcoyoyeokc.com

CORE Freedom City, Inc. Nonprofit / Service Agencies Mrs. Brittany Carter-Thomas.(405) 655-8763 11911 N. Pennsylvania Ave. P.O. Box 16443 Oklahoma City, OK 73113-2443 freedomcityokc.com CORE The LifeShare Foundation Nonprofit / Service Agencies Ms. B. Gabrielle Butler..............(405) 488-3853 4705 N.W. Expressway Oklahoma City, OK 73132-5213 lifeshareokfoundation.org CORE 929 Strategies Consultants Ms. Melissa Houston..................(405) 369-6195 424 W. Main St. 1216 Cruce St. Norman, OK 73069-4440 https://www.929strategies.com CORE Not Your Average Joe Coffee Service & Supplies Nonprofit / Service Agencies Mr. Tim Herbel...............................(405) 265-5733 1227 N. Walker Ave., Suite 300 509 Wilkinson Drive Moore, OK 73160 https://www.nyaj.coffee CORE Oklahoma Arts Council Government Agencies & Services Ms. Amber Sharples....................(405) 521-2931 2101 N. Lincoln Blvd., Suite 640 P.O. Box 52001-2001 Oklahoma City, OK 73152-2001 www.arts.ok.gov CORE Oklahoma City Ballet Dance Companies / Instruction Ms. Whitney Cross.....................(405) 843-9898 6800 N. Classen Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73116-7208 www.okcballet.org CORE Oklahoma City Rehabilitation Hospital Hospitals Ms. Stacie Goyne.........................(405) 900-8817 10240 Broadway Extension

CORE The Olie Gathering Place Meeting / Banquet Facilities Ms. Candice Hillenbrand.........(405) 838-1460

ADVISOR Celebration Station Amusement / Entertainment / Attractions Meeting / Banquet Facilities Mrs. Amanda Minniti..................(405) 942-7888 509 Westline Drive Oklahoma City, OK 73108-2303 https://www.fivestarparks.com/celebration- station/oklahoma-city ADVISOR LifeSquire Personal Services & Assistants Ms. Valerie Riley...........................(405) 889-4430 811 N. Broadway Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73102-6008 www.lifesquire.com EMERGING LEADER Ready 3 LLC Aviation Services Mr. Maurice M. Compton.......(405) 205-3392 116 E. Sheridan Ave., Suite 109E Oklahoma City, OK 73104-2442 www.ready3.com EMERGING LEADER Titan AVL Audio-Visual Production Services Ms. Angela Bartel.......................(405) 285-6938 4349 SW 23rd St. Oklahoma City, OK 73108-4632 www.titanavl.com ASSOCIATE 180 Construction Construction Companies Ms. Judith Ruiz.............................(405) 850-6480 1900 N.W. Expressway, Suite 405 Oklahoma City, OK 73118-1802 www.180constructionpro.com ASSOCIATE First American Title Insurance Company Title Companies Mrs. Mary Ann Nelson-Sutterfield.............(405) 236-2861 133 NW 8th St. Oklahoma City, OK 73102-5804 www.okfirstam.com ASSOCIATE Natuv Inc. Logistics / Warehousing & Distribution Ms. Louisa Brown.........................(405) 928-6164 3700 S. Purdue Ave., Suite 200 119 W. Main St. Norman, OK 73069-1308 natuv.com

2412 N. Olie Ave. 3821 NW 69th St. Oklahoma City, OK 73116-1723 theolieokc.com CORE Shiloh Adventures

Nonprofit / Service Agencies Youth Organizations & Centers Mr. Christopher Steel....................(405) 858-7011 448 NE 70th St. Oklahoma City, OK 73105-1210 shilohadventures.org CORE The Secrets LGBTQ Clubs Ms. Judith Ruiz.............................(405) 850-6480 2807 NW 36th St. Oklahoma City, OK 73112-7430 CORE Think Solar OKC Home Improvement / Remodeling / Repairs Mr. Dirk Neitzel...............................(405) 241-4080 3030 N.W. Expressway, Suite 200 #632 Oklahoma City, OK 73112-5466 thinksolarokc.com CORE TruLata Internet - Marketing & Advertising Marketing Consultants Mr. Jeffrey Perry.............................(405) 551-8399 712 H St. NE, Suite 696 445 NW 35th St. Oklahoma City, OK 73118-8601 trulata.com MEMBER UPGRADES

PARTNER+ Dippin’ Dots, LLC Food Processors & Manufacturers Mr. Scott Fischer..........................(405) 286-9647 701 Cedar Lake Blvd., Suite 400 Oklahoma City, OK 73114 www.dippindots.com

Oklahoma City, OK 73114-6309 www.oklahomacity-rehab.com

ECONOMIC INDICATORS OKLAHOMA CITY METRO NO. 1 FOR MOST AFFORDABLE RENTAL MARKET Top 10 Most Affordable Rental Markets by Rent Share (Studio-2 Bedrooms) – February 2023

OVER- ALL RANK

METRO

FEBRUARY 2023 RENT SHARE AS OF % INCOME

FEBRUARY 2023 MEDIAN RENT

MAXIMUM AFFORD-ABLE RENT AT CUR- RENT HH IN- COME

MAXIMUM AFFORD-ABLE RENT (RATIO)

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

17.4%

$980

$1 ,686

0.58

COLUMBUS, OH

18.2%

$1 ,175

$1 ,933

0.61

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL-BLOOM- INGTON, NM-WI

19.0%

$1 ,487

$2,343

0.63

CINCINNATI, OH-KY-IN

19.4%

$1 ,233

$1 ,904

0.65

KANSAS CITY, MO-KS

19.8%

$1 ,279

$1 ,938

0.66

RALEIGH, NC

20.5%

$1 ,510

$2,206

0.68

ST. LOUIS, MO-IL

20.8%

$1 ,307

$1 ,888

0.69

LOUISVILLE/JEFFERSON COUN- TY, KY-IN WASHINGTON-ARLINGTON-AL- EXANDRIA, DC-VA-MD-WV

21 .4%

$1 ,226

$1 ,715

0.71

21 .5%

$2,116

$2,949

0.72

AUSTIN-ROUND ROCK, TX

21 .7%

$1 ,644

$2,273

0.72

SOURCE: REALTOR.COM, FEBRUARY 2023. RENT SHARE IS THE PERCENTAGE OF MONTHLY INCOME ONE SPENDS ON RENT. THE MAXIMUM AFFORDABLE RENT AT CURRENT HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS RENT THAT DOES NOT EXCEED 30 PERCENT OF THE ADJUSTED INCOME OF A FAMILY WHOSE ANNUAL INCOME EQUALS 65 PERCENT OF THE MEDIAN INCOME FOR THE AREA, AS DETERMINED BY HUD, WITH ADJUSTMENTS FOR NUMBER OF BEDROOMS IN THE UNIT.

• Oklahoma City Metro ranked #1 in the nation for the most affordable rental market in February 2023. • Realtor.com analyzed data from the top 50 largest metropolitan areas, including median rent, rent share, maximum affordable rent at current household income and maximum affordable rent ratio. • In February 2023, overall median rent in the U.S. was $1,716, while OKC rent was only $980. • Despite this, when ranked against all other metros, OKC ranked favorably in several select categories.

For comprehensive Economic Indicator and Regional Data, please visit your Greater Oklahoma City Chamber Economic Development Division at www.greateroklahomacity.com/economicindicators or contact Eric Long, Research Economist, at 405-297-8976; elong@okcchamber.com DID YOU KNOW? Get regional demographic data, consumer expenditure information, labor force data for the Greater Oklahoma City Region and more at greateroklahomacity.com.

2023 OFFICERS

ISSUE #3578 - APRIL 2023 Editorial staff Harve Allen and Cynthia Reid Designer Billy Callan 405-297-8900 thepoint@okcchamber.com okcchamber.com twitter.com/okcchamber

SEAN TRAUSCHKE OGE Energy Corp. Chair TERESA ROSE, JD Communities Foundation of Oklahoma Chair-Elect & Vice Chair, Education and MAPS 4 Development JOHN HART Continental Resources Treasurer DAVID E. RAINBOLT

JUDY J. HATFIELD, CCIM Equity Commercial Realty Advisors, LLC Vice Chair, Military and Aerospace RHONDA HOOPER Jordan Advertising Vice Chair, Membership & Business/Economic Inclusion BRADLEY W. KRIEGER Arvest Bank Vice Chair, Government Relations BILL LANCE The Chickasaw Nation Vice Chair, Convention & Visitor Development

JENNY LOVE MEYER Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores Vice Chair, Marketing and Communications

RICK MUNCRIEF Devon Energy Corporation Vice Chair, Forward Oklahoma City J. LARRY NICHOLS

Devon Energy Corporation Vice Chair, Strategic Planning W. KENT SHORTRIDGE Oklahoma Natural Gas Company/ONE Gas, Inc. Vice Chair, Economic Development CHRISTY GILLENWATER Greater Oklahoma City Chamber President & CEO

facebook.com/okcchamber VeloCity (ISSN 1075-6264) is published monthly by the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, 123 Park Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73102. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $15 per year included in Chamber membership; nonmembers, $25 per year within the U.S.. Periodicals Postage paid at Oklahoma City. Advertising rates upon request. Publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising.

BancFirst Corporation Corporate Secretary CLAYTON I. BENNETT Dorchester Capital Vice Chair, Strategic Planning

TOM J. MCDANIEL American Fidelity Foundation Vice Chair, MAPS 3 Development

It’s time to elevate your career with OKC’s professional development conference! Whether it is during one of the inspiring keynote remarks or during the applicable information shared during a breakout session, Elevate attendees will walk away from the event with new tools and motivation to take their career to the next level.

Tuesday, May 2, 2023 Oklahoma City Convention Center

Elevate yourself. Elevate your employees. Elevate your brand.

Learn more, view speakers and purchase individual and group tickets at okcelevate.com.

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