Economic Development Touted
2013 Economic Development Day at the Capitol
OKLAHOMA CITY (February 13, 2013) – Members of the statewide organization of economic developers met at the state Capitol today regarding their top three legislative issues this year: economic development incentives, workforce development training and workers’ compensation reform.
Quick look:
· Economic Development Day attendees heard from Senate President Pro-Tempore Brian Bingman, Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb and Speaker of the House T.W. Shannon
· Senate President Pro-Tempore Brian Bingman received the 2012 Legislative Advocate of the Year award
· OEDC members shared economic development agenda with legislators
The Oklahoma Professional Economic Development Council (OEDC), an affiliate of the State Chamber of Oklahoma, has a pro-business, pro-jobs agenda to improve Oklahoma’s overall business climate, attracting more jobs and investment to the state. OEDC’s Economic Development Day at the Capitol featured remarks from Senate President Pro-Tempore Brian Bingman, Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb and Speaker of the House T.W. Shannon.
The program also included discussion on OEDC’s 2013 legislative agenda and key economic development legislation led by OEDC’s lobbyists Jami Longacre and Margaret Erling. Longacre and Erling stressed the importance of being engaged and actively involved in the promotion of economic development legislation. OEDC members are advocates for a prosperous economy in Oklahoma and strive to be active economic development resources for state elected officials and leaders.
“Economic development is about improving the lives and increasing wages in a community. When most of the country is seeing a market contraction, Oklahoma businesses are growing and investing in our state. Economic development is local and businesses on Oklahoma’s main streets are thriving due to the efforts of elected officials to encourage investment and job creation” said Michael Southard, president/CEO of the Ada Jobs Foundation and Chair of OEDC.
During the program, Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman, (R-Sapulpa) was named 2012 Legislative Advocate of the Year by OEDC. This award, selected annually by the OEDC membership, recognizes one legislator for outstanding support of economic development legislation. Bingman joins a list going back to 1996 of distinguished past recipients including Senator Clark Jolley, Representative Skye McNiel, former Speaker of the House Chris Benge, former Senate President Pro-Tempore Glenn Coffee and former Representative Daniel Sullivan.
“Senator Bingman has always been responsive to the new job creation and new capital investment legislative needs that are essential to the success of professional economic developers not only in Northeast Oklahoma, but across the state” said Jim Fram, senior vice president of economic development at the Tulsa Regional Chamber and OEDC member.
Following the program, members of OEDC took their 2013 agenda to legislators to discuss the importance of the key economic development bills and the impact those bills have on job growth and business in Oklahoma.
“The State Chamber is the unified voice of business in Oklahoma, and OEDC is an integral part of that voice,” said Gwendolyn Caldwell, senior vice president of government affairs at the State Chamber. “Local economic developers are able to educate lawmakers on how policy affects businesses in tangible ways. We have had successful, pro-growth legislation in recent years, but we must keep the momentum going.”
For more information about OEDC or for the full 2013 legislative agenda, visit www.oedc.net.
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Contact: Larisha Peterman
lpeterman@okstatechamber.com
405.235.3669