Leadership Notes: Manufacturing drives growth in Greater Oklahoma City

Photo credits: Jimmy Do, OKC Thunder Photography

October is Manufacturing Month, an opportunity to recognize an industry that plays an important role in Greater Oklahoma City’s economy and continues to create opportunities for our region. 

Nearly 42,000 people work in manufacturing across Greater Oklahoma City, earning an average annual wage of $70,821. The industry contributes $6.9 billion to our regional economy and includes everything from metals, machinery and building materials to food products, medical devices and equipment. 

Manufacturing also drives a significant share of the economic development activity we see today. Seventy percent of the Chamber’s active economic development projects are in manufacturing, with approximately half of those projects related to aerospace and defense. 

That activity is translating into investment. From January through August, existing and new-to-market companies announced nearly $900 million in capital investment across the region. 

There are several reasons manufacturers are choosing to invest here. Greater Oklahoma City offers a low cost of doing business, a talented and growing workforce and industrial properties that can support new and expanding operations. Those advantages help our economic development team compete for new projects while supporting companies already operating in the region. 

That support for existing businesses is an important part of our work. We are seeing notable interest from manufacturers exploring tools such as the state’s Business Expansion Incentive Program and Foreign Trade Zone #106. Collaborative efforts to increase awareness of the benefits available through the Foreign Trade Zone have contributed to an increase in business applications, helping more companies explore opportunities to strengthen their operations in Greater Oklahoma City. 

Behind every project and investment are the people who make this industry possible. Continued manufacturing growth depends on our ability to develop and retain skilled workers and connect them with opportunities in industries that are evolving alongside new technologies and changing business needs. 

Manufacturing Month gives us an opportunity to recognize the employees and the companies investing in our region, but it also reminds us of the work ahead. By supporting our existing businesses, competing for new investment and strengthening our workforce, we can continue building an environment where manufacturers — and Greater Oklahoma City — can grow together.