OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) — The Oklahoma Department of Commerce will host rollout sessions for a business recruitment program that aims to foster job and capital investment growth in communities across the state.
The SITES (Support Industrial Transformation for Economic Success) Ready Program was launched in February 2023 with over $41 million in state and federal committed to infrastructure improvements in industrial parks.
Commerce Department officials described the SITES Ready Program as a game-changing business recruitment tool that is part of an ongoing effort to improve local communities’ ability to develop and market viable sites.
“Local communities play a leading role in economic development and site selection,” said Jennifer Springer, Director of Business Development, Commerce. “The SITES Ready Program will help local communities understand existing economic development capacity while also learning how to expand and leverage that capacity or pivot to a new strategic plan to increase economic growth and potential.”
SITES assesses current site and community readiness.
The Commerce Department partners with InSite Consulting, a corporate and community economic development consulting firm, to facilitate SITES and help communities attract, retain and expand their business landscape.
InSite Consulting will provide communities that participate in the program recommendations on how to improve and market community assets.
Informational SITES rollout sessions will be held across Oklahoma, each led by InSite Consulting representatives who will help communities better understand the following:
- Modern and relevant expectations for park readiness;
- How to get sites and communities ready for growth;
- Ways to build a sustainable future of jobs and investment.
The rollout sessions will be held on the week of Feb. 12.
Community participation is essential to SITES’ success, according to Commerce Department officials.
“Your valuable contribution is key to the future economic resilience and success of the State of Oklahoma. We really hope you will choose to take advantage of this opportunity,” Commerce officials said.
Rollout sessions will be held at the following dates, times and areas:
- Monday, Feb. 12, 2024, Enid – 1:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, Select OK Membership Meeting for Select OK Members
- Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, Coweta – 10:00 a.m.
- Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, McAlester – 1:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, Duncan – 10:00 a.m.
Commerce officials said the SITES Ready Program provides the following benefits and results:
- All-inclusive: all local economic development organizations (LEDOs) have the opportunity to participate.
- No cost to the community.
- Very rare for a state to invite all LEDOs to participate.
- There will be limited barriers to participation.
- One of the best programs in the country.
- Site selection firms and clients nationwide know the reference SITES Ready.
- Program proven results from InSite guided programs:
- $18 billion in capital investment.
- 24,220 jobs created.
- 900% increase in site visits for one region in the country.
- 300% increase in frequency of submissions for projects for a state.
- 130% increase in client-requested visits for a rural community.
Oklahoma Commerce created this form to register for a SITES Ready rollout session.
