Oklahoma City’s Moment, and the Strategy Behind What Comes Next

Oklahoma City enters 2026 with momentum few cities can match and responsibility that comes with it.

An NBA championship. National recognition for quality of life and cost competitiveness. Growing attention as a visitor destination and a place where employers and talent want to land. And just ahead, a global spotlight tied to the region’s role in the 2028 Olympic Games.

As the city’s profile rises, the question is no longer whether Oklahoma City belongs on the national stage, but how it sustains growth in a way that strengthens every part of the community.

That challenge is at the center of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber’s 2026 Strategic Framework, a roadmap designed to align economic growth, workforce development, advocacy, and community vitality around a shared vision for the region’s next chapter.

“We are no longer the ‘best kept secret,’” said Chamber Chair Mike Ross. “And that visibility brings responsibility.”

The 2026 framework reflects a shift from celebrating momentum to intentionally shaping what comes next. It organizes the Chamber’s work around coordinated priorities focused on keeping Oklahoma City competitive, inclusive, and resilient.

Four issues will be central to the Chamber’s leadership and advocacy work in the year ahead.

Education remains foundational to long-term economic success. In 2026, the Chamber will continue advocating for policies that improve student outcomes, including development of a statewide Longitudinal Data System, while strengthening collaboration between business leaders and education partners to better align workforce needs with classroom outcomes.

Community safety and health are equally critical. Post-pandemic challenges related to mental health, addiction, and homelessness affect not only individuals, but employers and neighborhoods across the region. The Chamber’s work will focus on evidence-based solutions, regional coordination, and employer participation, including second-chance hiring and workforce pathways that support long-term stability.

Transportation and mobility will continue to shape the city’s growth trajectory. Voters affirmed the importance of infrastructure with approval of a $2.7 billion bond package, and the Chamber will partner with the City of Oklahoma City to ensure priorities are delivered while advocating for long-range planning and funding that support future mobility.

At the county level, progress on the Oklahoma County Detention Center and broader criminal justice reform remains urgent. In 2026, the Chamber will push for a clear construction plan and legislative changes that give Oklahoma County the flexibility to modernize governance in line with the needs of a growing metro.

Alongside policy and project work, the Chamber is also launching a comprehensive community branding effort in 2026. The goal is not a logo or slogan, but a platform for providing a shared story that reflects Oklahoma City’s identity, strengths, and aspirations and supports talent attraction, business recruitment, tourism, and national visibility.

Throughout the framework, success will be measured through tangible outcomes, including job creation, wage growth, capital investment, workforce alignment, and improved livability indicators.

“Oklahoma City has always been a city that refuses to settle for good enough,” Ross said. “We are a championship city, a city on the national radar, and a city with Olympic-sized opportunity ahead. Most importantly, our best days are still in front of us.”

For Oklahoma City, 2026 is not just a continuation of momentum. It is a moment to turn growth into lasting impact.