EDMOND —
Gov. Mary Fallin recently told a sold-out audience at the Tulsa Metro Chamber that Oklahoma must find “exotic industries” in order to expand the job market. She wants to find a niche business sector where Oklahoma can take the lead and create a game-changing atmosphere for business growth, she told the business leaders.
And the governor was ready with an example of what she meant — expanding the aerospace industry already here by targeting the unmanned aerial vehicle sector. Oklahoma has a strong military presence and we already have several defense contractors and a munitions plant in McAlester. It makes sense to expand those job-creation opportunities by inviting more of those types of businesses to make their home in Oklahoma.
Another key factor in this line of reasoning is that these are not minimum-wage jobs, either. They create an opportunity for out-of-work engineers and those in the engineering programs at state colleges, and hopefully it will lure other engineers to move here with their families in order to enjoy Oklahoma’s low cost of living.
One of the key issues for Oklahoma leaders to be concerned with in job recruitment is to find ways of ensuring that the jobs lured here are truly quality jobs offered by quality employers. Too many times in the past, Oklahoma has given incentives to companies that failed to sustain their end of the bargain for the long term. Oklahomans need job opportunities and not empty promises.
If Gov. Fallin can successfully pursue her goal of moving exotic industries to Oklahoma, all of our state’s residents potentially will benefit.
Our View
Fallin may strike gold
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Be Edmond needs your help
BMX star and local legend Mat Hoffman knows what’s it like to fall from great heights and find yourself at one of the worst low points in life. He also knows how to climb back up and tackle life’s problems head on.
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OUR VIEW: Be Edmond needs your help
BMX star and local legend Mat Hoffman knows what’s it like to fall from great heights and find yourself at one of the worst low points in life. He also knows how to climb back up and tackle life’s problems head on.
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OUR VIEW: OKPOP — great idea, bad timing
The Route 66 museum in Clinton has been such a success that Bob Blackburn, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society, said the turnaround project proves that popular culture is a best-seller when it comes to museum projects. It also proved that when a community gets behind a project and raises the funds to launch it, they all can reap the rewards of the increased tourism and recognition.
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OUR VIEW: Choice is clear
This Tuesday, Edmond residents are asked to go to the polls to choose between incumbent Mayor Charles Lamb and Richard Prawdzienski for the office of mayor. Voters citywide also will be asked to consider whether to retain Nick Massey as its Ward 4 councilmember or select newcomer Shilpa Abbitt, an engineer employed by Devon Energy in Oklahoma City.
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OUR VIEW: Line-item budgets should return
Some may have made fun of the nickname — the Doomsday deal — but the thought behind new Speaker of the House T.W. Shannon’s move to name a House committee specifically to monitor federal dollars coming into Oklahoma was right on target.
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OUR VIEW: Economic development plan deserves consideration
An economist recently told the Edmond City Council that the entire Oklahoma City metropolitan area has the potential to boom with economic growth in the next decade. Edmond officials are making plans now to be ready for that potential growth to ensure the city gets its fair share of the economic pie.
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OUR VIEW: Doing the right thing
On Wednesday, the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Senate swore in their newly elected and re-elected members in preparation of the 2013 legislative session. It was a moment for those elected to public office to savor their success, share their victory with family and friends who came to watch the ceremonies and be cordial with their new colleagues.
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OUR VIEW: Lankford, Jolley, McDaniel get our vote
Few times in American history have we seen people divided so politically as we have during this election cycle. The partisan gridlock of Congress and the relentless sniping of presidential candidates on both sides of the aisle are more than just fodder for late-night comedy.
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OUR VIEW: Say yes to SQ 766
State Question 766 poses one of the most drastic questions for voters to consider in state history. The language of this state question requires voters to say either yes, they don’t want a tax increase, or no, they do want one.
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