For businesses seeking a new location, business climate and community support can be a major factor in the site selection process. From emerging small businesses to large corporations seeking to relocate, Claremore provides a supportive business climate.

Local Incentives and Site Selection Assistance

The Claremore Industrial and Economic Development Authority, CIEDA assists growing businesses choosing to locate in Claremore by determining growth needs and customizing incentive options to meet those needs. Additionally, the City of Claremore offers fast track assistance to businesses locating in Claremore. Since 2003, over 1000 new manufacturing jobs have been created in Claremore.

Available Real Estate

From large industrial tracts of land to small commercial properties and everything in between, Claremore has sites available for growing businesses. Nearly 300 acres of industrial property are available in the Claremore North Business Park and Claremore Industrial Park at reasonable rates. Existing buildings are also available for industrial and commercial occupancy.

Skilled Workforce

Businesses can expect to find an abundance of skilled workers in the Claremore area. Claremore has strong advanced manufacturing, healthcare, government and education sectors, each supported by highly skilled workers. Customized training is provided by Rogers State University and the Northeast Technology Center to accommodate the needs of growing businesses.

Oklahoma as a Place to do Business

The State of Oklahoma provides strong businesses incentives including; employment rebates, customized training, tax incentives for accelerated depreciation, and many others. Oklahoma has recently made tremendous strides in reducing business costs associated with taxes. Recently the Tax Foundation determined that Oklahoma businesses pay the 7th least amount of corporate taxes.

When combined, these factors make Claremore an appealing location for growing businesses, site selection professionals and executives in search of an additional location. If you are considering a new home for your businesses or need an additional facility, please call 918-341-4755. Feel free to learn more about Claremore at www.claremoreusa.com

www.claremoreusa.com

Recently CIEDA commissioned Federal Reserve Branch Executive Mark Snead to provide a comprehensive 2009-2010 economic forecast for Claremore. The results reflect the considerable job growth of our city since 2003. ClaremoreOklahomaEconomicOutlook.doc Since CIEDA released the forecast data, I have been repeatedly asked, “Why is Claremore’s economy so strong in the midst of the challenges faced by the rest of nation?”

Geography

Oklahoma’s market position provides businesses with direct access to many metro markets and millions of customers. Claremore’s is within 50 miles of being equidistant to both coasts and features air, rail, truck, and port transportation access. In addition, Oklahoma was fortunate to not experience the highs of the real estate boom and conversely now isn’t seeing the lows of the current real estate market. Many publications including Forbes and Fortune have identified both the Tulsa and Oklahoma City markets as recession proof.

Industry

Claremore is a Northeast suburb in the Tulsa Metropolitan area. For many years the Tulsa area has had considerable market share within the Oil and Gas production and component manufacturing sectors. From 2003-2007 over 1,000 jobs were created in Claremore in the manufacturing sector alone. Many of these jobs were created in the oil and gas pump component industry. Claremore has over 30 manufacturers and while in some cases production has been slower, these firms are well positioned for future success. Healthcare has also seen substantial growth within the last 5 years, largely due to the growth of Claremore Regional Hospital. In addition, new and emerging green technology firms like Heath Technology are taking full advantage of the labor provided by the Tulsa\Claremore labor market area. Learn more about Claremore’s highly skilled workforce and labor assets at Claremore 2008 Labor Force Briefing.pdf

Business Conditions

Oklahoma offers highly attractive business conditions to executives and site selection professionals. Claremore has low business opportunity costs, low energy costs, skilled labor, and excellent business incentives. These factors make Claremore an affordable option for business expansion or relocation.

Skilled Labor

While it is often said that people are an organization’s greatest strength, it is particularly true of cities. Claremore offers a skilled workforce that fuels growth and investment opportunities for manufacturing, energy, and healthcare firms.

While the current economic challenges certainly haven’t subsided, Claremore is well positioned to facilitate future job growth and to continue to accommodate new investment. With over $104 million in announced new investment within the last 24 months, your next business home is waiting for you in Claremore.

Come Grow With Us!

Tim Hight
www.claremoreusa.com

Depending on which way the political pendulum has swung during the recent election and now the stimulus era: industrial sectors including green manufacturing, IT, and construction have each been proclaimed to lead us to economic prosperity. So, are these industries and jobs coming to your city? In many cases the answer will be yes, however in working to facilitate the creation of these new jobs, we need to be careful to not overlook a very important piece of local economies.

The International Economic Development Council states that between “65 to 80 percent of new jobs are created by existing businesses in a community rather than by those that relocate to a community”. What does this mean for us? It is very important that as cities begin to see new job growth in the years ahead that we do not lose sight of the great companies already in our cities that have been responsible for our economic health and that will continue to lead us into the future. In Claremore, 1 in 4 jobs are in the manufacturing sector; healthcare and education are also strong sectors as well. These industries will continue to pillar an already strong local economy here. Most cities and regions have economic pillars that will survive the downturn and continue to thrive.

So, are the new jobs and industries coming? For many cities the answer will be yes. Claremore has already seen the impact of green job growth with the announcement of Heath Technologies in February. For Oklahoma the trend of green and alternative energy job growth should continue in the wind energy, solar energy, and vapor recovery industries. As we see these positive signs of the national and local economies moving forward let’s not forget to appreciate our existing businesses responsible for past economic success and that will fuel future success.

Tim Hight

Executive Director
CIEDA
www.claremoreusa.com

Have you ever wandered through a cave or tunnel? A lot of energy is spent getting out. Often to the point that there is no action plan for what will happen when we do get out. Organizations are no different. When we face hard times and short-term challenges sometimes we find ourselves unprepared for opportunities that emerge when we finally do see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Like every other recession before it, the current recession will end. Opportunities will emerge to increase market share, profit growth, and sales. Yet many organizations are so focused on short-term challenges that they are unprepared to capitalize on future opportunities when they arrive.

In Claremore, we are fortunate to have Rogers State University (www.rsu.edu/) and the upcoming Northeast Tech Center campus (http://www.netech.edu/) which offer services to businesses and employees ranging from small business assistance, to short term training and degree programs.

In my profession, the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute (http://edi.ou.edu/) provides world class training for ED professionals. The staff and board are committed to student success, and as a graduate I can verify that the training I received has greatly prepared me for the opportunities and challenges of economic development.

As you work your way through the uncertainty of the current economic period, one of the best ways to prepare for emerging opportunities is to properly address current and future training needs. I encourage you to take this opportunity to prepare for light ahead.

Tim Hight

Executive Director
CIEDA
www.claremoreusa.com

The national unemployment rate is 8.1%. National media outlets are continuing to bombard the American people with negative information regarding the economy. What does this mean for local economic development professionals? Now more the economic development profession has an opportunity to emerge and provide stakeholders with value. Here are a few suggestions that I have:

Provide Results

Whether you are talking about new business recruitment or retention and expansion our stakeholders deserve results. Performance is more important than ever. At www.claremoreusa.com, you can find updates of positive news stories that demonstrate the performance of the Claremore Industrial and Economic Authority. These articles and news stories are updated daily and communicate to local residents and businesses and prospects that Claremore has a healthy local economy.

Communicate Hope

In spite of the challenges of 2008, Claremore had a net job growth percentage of 3.8%. In the last 24 months CIEDA has announced $103 million in new investment for Claremore. Every city, county, state and region has a powerful asset-based story to communicate to stakeholders even in the darkest of times. It’s time we as economic development professionals begin telling the story of our stakeholders and help provide motivation for them to begin living again in this economy.

When a mom or dad is out of work they rely on us to create an employment opportunity for them. Those with jobs, need us to continue to meet the needs of local business stakeholders to ensure that they continue to have work. I have no doubt that the economic development profession will rise to the challenge and provide stakeholders with hope and opportunity in the future.

Tim Hight

Executive Director
CIEDA
www.claremoreusa.com