OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) – Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell recently gathered with state officials and industry leaders for a conference to discuss advancing economic development and growing workforce in the state.
State dignitaries and business panelists spoke during the Select Oklahoma Conference on Economic Development on Aug. 28, sharing knowledge and strategies to maximize the state’s economic development efforts.
Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell attended the conference and spoke about the future of economic development in the Sooner State.
“When we’re able to all rally together like this, it allows us to combine efforts and build stronger partnerships for our state,” Pinnell said.
Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed Pinnell Workforce and Economic Development secretary in July, a position created specifically for Pinnell.
Workforce development has been a top priority for Stitt.
Stitt signed Senate Bill 621 into law last month, establishing the Oklahoma Workforce Commission.
The Workforce Commission will direct the state’s workforce development strategy and administer and oversee funding allocated by the legislature for workforce development initiatives. The commission can contract with outside parties to achieve its goals.
The lieutenant governor touched upon his new workforce development role during the conference, discussing how it will serve efforts toward economic development.
“I’m excited to take on this new role and be involved on the commerce side to see how we can work together to amplify workforce needs and encourage talent retention,” he said.
Marketing will be a primary factor in growing the state’s workforce in the coming years, Pinnell said.
Pinnell touted Oklahoma’s business and workforce growth on social media after the conference, saying Oklahoma has seen a rise in the number of companies moving into the state. He said those companies created 7,500 jobs and generated $4 billion in revenue the last 18 months.
