THE REGIONAL Economy
AEROSPACE In Greater Oklahoma City, there are 291 public and private aerospace companies employing 43,250 Oklahoma workers, the majority of whom are employed in the public sector by Tinker Air Force Base, FAA Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center and the Oklahoma National Guard. Recent relocations and significant capital investments by The Boeing Company highlight Oklahoma City’s potential for even more aerospace growth. Kratos Defense and Security Solutions, Skydweller Aero and United Dynamics are just a few of the latest aerospace companies that have decided to relocate or expand into Oklahoma City. BIOSCIENCE/HEALTH CARE Ground-breaking discoveries made by Oklahoma City- based researchers have helped put Oklahoma City on the map as a contender in the bioscience and technology marketplace. Oklahoma’s bioscience companies boast annual revenues of $6.7 billion while supporting more than 51,000 employees. The designation of the Oklahoma City Innovation District near downtown and future home of Convergence, a $700 million mixed-use project expected to be completed in 2024, should help further solidify OKC as a growing bioscience and technology mecca.
The Greater Oklahoma City region is a well-known hub of entrepreneurship and a land of opportunity for job seekers. After all, the city was built by brave individuals and innovative companies. Many of those original residents came here with little except the determination to make a new start. Risk-taking, a sense of optimism and community cooperation remain hallmarks of Oklahoma’s business climate and community spirit. Read more about the region’s industries at ABetterLifeOKC.com/industries. For generations, many of the nation’s most-renowned energy entrepreneurs operated out of Oklahoma City. But the city’s major industries have changed over the last several decades with the ongoing diversification of Greater Oklahoma City’s economy. With Tinker Air Force Base’s presence, businesses in the aerospace industry continue to look to Oklahoma City as their next home. The city’s investment in attractions and meeting spaces keeps it on the radar for event planners from across the globe. And with the Innovation District and its institutions near downtown, Oklahoma City’s biomedical industry is creating healthier futures for everyone. Building upon the strength of the state’s early beginnings, the city’s growing industry sectors include aerospace, professional services, bioscience/health care, government, manufacturing, hospitality and retail trade.
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