Business Briefs (Week of April 21)
Monday, April 24, 2023
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Looking for business briefs? This week's roundup (for the week ending April 21) from The Journal Record.
New grant will extend Norman’s bike path network
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation has awarded the city of Norman more than $2.1 million to continue the community’s construction of traffic-free pathways for bicyclists and pedestrians. The latest funding, awarded on April 3, will be used to extend an existing multimodal path that runs east along State Highway 9 from urban Norman to 72nd Avenue SE, which is near the doorstep of Lake Thunderbird State Park.
Empowering Women Awards to recognize Okla. companies, organizations
The Journal Record announced a new recognition program that will honor companies and organizations that demonstrate tangible efforts to support and elevate women in Oklahoma. The Empowering Women Award winners will be announced mid-May and celebrated on July 13 at a reception at the Oklahoma History Center in conjunction with The Journal Record’s Beacon Awards and The Journal Record’s Top Projects.
Stitt’s decision to disband council on homelessness criticized
A decision by Gov. Kevin Stitt to disband a council formed nearly two decades ago to coordinate state efforts to alleviate homelessness has drawn pushback from some who fear a loss of momentum – and potentially even a loss of funding – will result from the move toward more reliance on local programs. The Interagency Council on Homelessness had been in place since 2004. Among other things, it tracked trends in homelessness in communities across the state, reported numbers to government agencies that influenced grant funding, and contributed to long-term planning to address challenges at the state level. In a statement, Stitt Press Secretary Kate Vesper said the governor has faith in local programs as well as in state efforts that will continue through agencies such as the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
Cockfighting bills die for lack of hearing in Oklahoma Legislature
An effort to unwind a state law classifying cockfighting as a felony died in the state Legislature. Senate leaders chose not to hear House Bill 2530, which if passed into law would have allowed counties in the state to opt out of strong penalty enforcement against people convicted of cockfighting offenses. A similar bill, Senate Bill 1006, died more than two weeks ago in the Senate. A third bill, House Bill 1792, a broad rewrite of language addressing several felonies, which includes a reduction in fines for cockfighting, is still technically alive but would seem unlikely to pass as it is currently written.
Panasonic's renewed interest hinges on more state money
Panasonic has plans to build a manufacturing plant in northeast Oklahoma if the state comes up with hundreds of millions more than what lawmakers have said they are willing to pay. The company’s renewed interest was announced nearly a year after it first rejected the state’s $698 million incentive package and instead opted to build a manufacturing facility in Kansas. Gov. Kevin Stitt announced April 14 that Panasonic will receive about $698 million in capital investment rebates as part of the LEAD Act passed last year by the state Legislature to entice the company to locate here. Panasonic, however, wants an additional $245 million in infrastructure upgrades at the industrial park in Pryor where it plans to build a $5 billion, 5-million-square-foot plant that will employ 3,500 Oklahomans and create about 20,000 indirect jobs.
Cherokee Nation’s economic impact exceeds $3 billion
The Cherokee Nation drives more than $3.04 billion annually into the Oklahoma economy, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said during a forum breakfast at the University of Tulsa. An economic impact report by economist Russell Evans, principal of the Economic Impact Group and executive director of Economic Research and Policy Institute at Oklahoma City University, shows the tribe remains one of the state’s biggest economic drivers through investments, employment, labor income, and local production of goods and services.
Oklahoma, United Kingdom pledge to increase trade
A memorandum of understanding between Oklahoma and the United Kingdom pledges to increase trade through deepening economic development and recognizes the two governments as energy leaders with a shared focus on reliable and affordable energy. Gov. Kevin Stitt and Nigel Huddleston, U.K. minister for international trade, signed the MOU during a meeting in Washington, D.C. Oklahoma was the fourth state to enter into such an agreement with the U.K.
Tornadoes leave 3 dead, widespread damage in central Oklahoma
Parts of central Oklahoma spent Thursday assessing damage and beginning what some say will be a long recovery after one of several tornadoes caused widespread damage and left at least three people dead. Gov. Kevin Stitt signed an executive order, declaring a state of emergency in Cleveland, Lincoln, McClain, Oklahoma and Pottawatomie counties following Wednesday’s storms. The National Weather Service confirmed spotting at least eight tornadoes during a severe weather outbreak across the state Wednesday evening. The McClain County Sheriff’s Office reported the three fatalities in Cole, a community of about 600 people located southwest of Norman. In Shawnee, heavy damage was reported in multiple areas.
Amid financial hardships, pro softball league expanding
The Oklahoma City Spark filled out its roster at the Women's Professional Fastpitch softball draft last week just two months before the start of its inaugural season. Amid startup financial pressures, the WPF league is entering its second season, doubling its number of teams from two to four and hoping to add as many as four more teams next season. At least half of the team members played at either the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University or a high school in the state.
Potawatomi Fire aims for ‘world-class’ basketball experience
Basketball fans may be surprised to learn that an Oklahoma professional basketball franchise currently is leading its conference. The Potawatomi Fire, owned and operated by the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, is in its sophomore season as part of The Basketball League. From the 2021 to 2022 season, TBL doubled the number of teams participating in the league from 29 to 44. In 2023, TBL grew to include 50 teams.
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