Oklahoma has positioned itself as one of the nation’s most active aerospace and defense hubs. The state blends long-standing capabilities with a climate that supports innovation, workforce development and business growth.
As part of its ongoing workforce development efforts, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber launched OKC FAME in fall 2024 to support the region’s growing manufacturing sector.
Business and civic leaders recently gathered for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber’s State of the Region event, which offered a clear, data-focused look at where Central Oklahoma stands—and where it needs to improve. The event featured a regional economic overview presented by Chamber President and CEO Christy Gillenwater.
Oklahoma’s biotech sector took center stage when the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) brought its national Roadshow tour to Oklahoma City. This event, in partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and Life Sciences Oklahoma highlighted the dynamic and growing bioeconomy in the region.
Improving Oklahoma City’s air service is the goal of a new task force formed by the Chamber. Chaired by Burns Hargis, former chair of the Chamber and former president of Oklahoma State University, the task force is comprised of airport representatives, Airport Trust members, and business leaders interested in working together to provide valuable information to airlines as they consider expansion in the market.
Oklahoma City’s tourism economy reached record levels in 2024, according to a new report by the Tourism Economics group within Oxford Economics. The study found that 24.5 million visitors came to OKC last year, driving $2.8 billion in direct spending and fueling a total economic impact of $4.6 billion.
In this month’s Leadership Notes, Chamber President and CEO Christy Gillenwater emphasizes the importance of Oklahoma City’s visitor economy as a powerful catalyst for investment, talent attraction and long-term growth.
The Oklahoma City metropolitan area posted a preliminary unemployment rate of 3.0% in July, improving from 3.2% in June. The metro has recorded unemployment below 4% for 48 consecutive months, the longest such stretch in its modern history.
