BOOSTING INNOVATION Since 2017, the Chamber has worked with the Oklahoma Health Center Foundation, Presbyterian Health Foundation, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and Oklahoma City Redevelopment Authority on the growth of Oklahoma City’s innovation district, an area loosely defined as the Oklahoma Health Center and Automobile Alley. Lead initially by the Oklahoma Health Center Foundation as the governance entity for the district, the Oklahoma City Innovation District has become its own organization and hired Katy Evans Boren as the president and CEO in 2018, where she will identify and lead strategies in which anchor institutions, firms and civic leaders rally stakeholders to support the innovation district’s vision to create an inclusive innovation hub. Much of the work will be driven by the Brookings Institution and the Project for Public Spaces study on the district that was released in 2017. INVESTING IN QUALITY OF LIFE Since 1993, the Chamber has been one of the biggest advocates for the power of MAPS–– the 1-cent temporary sales tax that funds transformational projects throughout Oklahoma City. In 2018, the MAPS 3 program saw a return on its investment as several of its projects were completed or reached significant milestones. The Pete White Health & Wellness Center celebrated its grand opening in May. The 39,000-square foot facility, located at 4021 S Walker Ave., is operated by NorthCare and is next door to Capitol Hill High School. It has a fitness center for members age 50 and up and a medical clinic open to everyone. The center is named for former longtime Ward 4 Councilman Pete White. After 21 months of construction and testing, the Oklahoma City Streetcar opened in December. The streetcar will cover 5.1 miles with two routes throughout downtown Oklahoma City and will connect millions of visitors each year with some of Oklahoma City’s most frequently visited entertainment venues and attractions. The project is considered to be an important
“Catholic Charities is a member of the Greater OKC Chamber because we deeply believe that re-integrating those we serve into a thriving economy is the best way we can help lift those able to work out of poverty. We believe the city is best served when the business community and social service agencies see themselves as partners in moving our city forward—one great example being the much-needed criminal justice reform—while keeping in mind that an economy exists to serve its people and not the other way around.”
- PA T R I C K R AG L OW E X E C U T I V E D I R E C TO R , CAT HO L I C C H A R I T I E S O F T H E A R C H D I OC E S E O F O K L A HOMA C I T Y , I NC .
economic development tool for future investment in downtown Oklahoma City. The streetcar sets the stage for future regional transit discussions throughout all of central Oklahoma, improves the overall walkability of downtown and encourages linkages to a number of different districts. According to a recently released investment impact analysis, the OKC Streetcar also positively impacts the economic development of the region. The report, which was conducted by the Chamber and RegionTrack with input from EMBARK, the City of Oklahoma City and the Alliance for Economic Development, examines the three-block impact zone surrounding the streetcar route to better understand how the construction of a fixed-route system impacted investment patterns and population growth. Within the three-block impact zone around the streetcar route, there has been more than $1.6 billion in public and private investment since 2011, the year the streetcar route was announced. In that same time frame, the area within the three- block impact zone of the streetcar route has gained approximately 5,700 jobs (16 percent increase from 2011-2015), a 1.54 million square feet net increase of office space, 21 residential developments with 1,860 new housing units and seven new hotels with 833 hotel rooms.
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