Forward Oklahoma City program still making difference for OKC 25 years later

A program established in Oklahoma City more than 25 years ago to grow Oklahoma City’s economy, improve its business climate and create a more-desirable quality of life is still accomplishing its intended purpose of repositioning OKC as one of the top economic development site locations in the nation.

The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber created Forward OKC in 1995 to grow quality jobs, increase capital investment, retain existing business and improve per capita income. Since that time, hundreds of Oklahoma City businesses and organizations have invested in Forward OKC to help continue Oklahoma City’s rise as an economic destination by expanding its economy and increasing employment, investment and income.

The original iteration of Forward OKC was a five-year proposition, but with the success the program experienced early on, Chamber officials continued to evolve the program every five years. It is currently in its sixth five-year cycle and is now referred to as Forward OKC VI.

The focus of Forward OKC VI, which runs from 2021-2025, is focused on growth and diversification, innovation and talent, advocating for business, and supporting community initiatives.

“Forward Oklahoma City was really designed to focus on our long-term vision for Oklahoma City’s growth. The five-year cycles give us the ability to adjust and evolve as the city changes and opportunities are presented,” said Jeff Seymour, the Chamber’s executive vice president for economic development.

Seymour said one example of how Forward OKC gave the organization the ability to pivot on an important project is the partnership with the Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City. Growing wages and creating wealth for everyone in region is one of the program’s top goals.

“Forward Oklahoma City is giving us the ability to bring in a partner and begin working on minority business supply chains, enhancing workplace diversity programs and more.”

This is just one of several partnerships that are helping to grow new businesses. Another success in 2021 is the launch of the gBETA pre-accelerator program in Oklahoma City in September to help accelerate the growth of startup companies. This was another partnership that included Forward Oklahoma City, American Fidelity Assurance Company, Inasmuch Foundation, Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores, Oklahoma State University, Square Deal Capital and the University of Oklahoma OU and OSU.

Another partnership brought Cultivating Coders in the region, a program that works with underserved populations to encourage students and adults to learn software development. The initial program in Oklahoma City worked with Millwood High School students to become coders.

Other accomplishments of Forward Oklahoma City in 2021 included helping companies announce nearly 3,800 jobs in the region, bringing an additional $165 million in payroll and $293 million in capital investment. And the program was key to the Chamber achieving all of its legislative priorities during the 2021 session.

“This program is about making strategic investments, whether that is in our innovation platforms, strategic government relations programs, or standing up a new program based on a best practice from another community,” he said. “As we have faced new challenges in 2021, Forward OKC gave us the tools to go in and make some very strategic investments to continue to enhance our long-term capabilities.”

There are still opportunities to invest in Forward Oklahoma City VI and its programs. To learn more, reach out to Jeff Seymour at 405-297-8991 or [email protected].

This story was originally published in the December 2021 edition of the VeloCityOKC Newsletter.