OPINION/COLUMN
While this week brought a bit of disappointing news for our district with the closing of our local Homeland grocery store, it‘s important to remember that Oklahoma’s economy is strong, growing and full of promise.
Across our great state, new businesses and major investments are on the horizon. Google is expanding in Pryor and Stillwater, investing $9 billion and partnering with OU, OSU and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers to develop a highly trained workforce.
CBC Global Ammunition is building a $300 million facility. Emirates Global Aluminum is opening a $4 billion production plant, while Firehawk Aerospace and Kratos Defense are expanding in Lawton and Bristow, respectively. Vudoo Gun Works has relocated its headquarters to Prague with an $8.3 million investment and SCHEELS, a premier sporting goods store, plans a new Oklahoma City store by 2028.
The Oklahoma Legislature also took the necessary steps this year to ensure these investments continue to grow for our state. House Bill 2781, the Reindustrialize Oklahoma Act, provides performance- based incentives for companies investing at least $2 billion and creating 700 or more jobs in the first year. By the second year, these companies are expected to maintain 1,000 jobs. This approach ensures long-term growth while protecting taxpayer dollars and supporting sustainable development in manufacturing and industry.
Oklahoma’s aerospace and space sectors are also reaching new heights. On July 1, the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority merged into the Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics, signaling our state’s commitment to innovation in space. Dawn Aerospace plans to launch its Mk-II Aurora spaceplane from Burns Flat by 2027, bringing suborbital flight and microgravity research opportunities to Oklahoma and creating a skilled aerospace workforce.
The growth we are seeing in Oklahoma isn’t just in businesses, it’s in our communities, too, as people are flocking to move here!
In 2024, Oklahoma ranked eighth in the nation for net migration, up from ninth in 2023, adding more than 30,500 employed residents since 2020. This is a stark contrast to the loss of about 17,000 residents between 2015 and 2019. Many of the people moving here are college-educated professionals, reversing the brain drain our state has faced in the past.
Families and young professionals are choosing Oklahoma for its affordability, vibrant communities, and quality of life.
While the closure of Pauls Valley’s Homeland is a painful moment for the community, it is just one chapter in Oklahoma’s larger story of growth, innovation and opportunity. From major corporate investments to new legislation supporting business and workforce development, Oklahoma is moving forward. Our communities remain resilient, and our state is open for business, ready to welcome new residents and innovators alike.
As always, I continue to pray for each and every one of you and I hope that you are staying cool in this heat! I am honored to represent you and grateful for the trust you have placed in me. Feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns. My email address is cynthia.roe@okhouse.gov, or you can call my office at 405-557-7365.
Rep. Cynthia Roe, a Republican, represents House District 42 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
Her district includes portions of Cleveland, Garvin and McClain counties.
