February 2018
Google announces $600 million expansion near Pryor
Google announced plans for a major expansion to the company’s facilities near Pryor at the MidAmerica Industrial Park. Total investment at the facility now exceeds $2.5 billion. The expansion will add another four-story data center to the campus, which employs more than 400 people and opened in 2011. It is billed as the corporation’s second largest data center in the world.
Frontier and ViaAir adding nonstop flights in Tulsa
Frontier Airlines announced they will add nonstop flights in April, bringing more connections from Tulsa to the nation's coasts. The Denver-based, low-fare carrier will soon connect to San Jose, Calif., and Washington D.C.'s Dulles International Airport. ViaAir also announced additional nonstop air service to Austin, Texas, beginning in May. The additions will total 22 nonstop flights out of Tulsa.
Tulsa area flight simulator engineering firm to expand
A Broken Arrow engineering firm that modifies flight simulators announced they will add 100 new jobs during the next five years. CymSTAR, which uses mechanical, electrical and software engineering to modify simulators for the U.S. military, will be hiring electrical and mechanical engineers, technicians and administrative staff. The additional hires will more than double the company's current size.
Tulsa Port of Catoosa reports 2017 growth
The Tulsa Port of Catoosa, the farthest inland port in America, facilitated 2.55 million tons through its facility in 2017, making it the third-best year in its nearly 50-year history. The port supports more than 3,200 jobs through 70 industrial facilities.
New, mixed-use buildings planned near Utica Square, Greenwood District
Developers announced plans to build a three-story, 22,000-square-foot building to hold retail and office space near Utica Square. Construction is set to begin in the spring and complete in early 2019. A larger mixed-use development is scheduled to begin construction in Tulsa’s downtown Greenwood District by the end of 2018. The 70,000-square-foot project will be five-stories tall and will have office space above ground level, which will include retail space. Construction is planned to complete in 2020.
Oklahoma tax revenue in January increases 15 percent over last year
Gross receipts tallied by the state treasury showed a 15 percent increase in January over the same month last year, totaling $1.1 billion, or $150 more than 2017. The increase is the 12th time in 13 months that Oklahoma has seen year-to-year gain.
Oklahoma ranked second in nation for wind power capacity
A trade publication in February ranked Oklahoma at No. 2 in the nation for wind power capacity. The American Wind Energy Association reports Oklahoma had 7,495 megawatts of installed capacity at the end of 2017, putting the state behind only Texas, which carries 22,637 megawatts.
Tulsa highlights positive efforts at first Good News Summit
The Tulsa Talent Hub received recognition during the Good News Summit, an event that highlighted positive efforts in the Tulsa community. Lumina Foundation designated Tulsa as one of 17 talent hubs last year. The program helps cities meet rigorous standards for creating environments that attract, retain and cultivate talent. Leadership Tulsa created the Good News Summit as a counterpoint to criticism that often dominates policy discussion in Tulsa and Oklahoma.
BNSF Railway announces $110 million in improvements
BNSF Railway Co. announced $110 million in capital improvement plans to maintain their Oklahoma rail investment. for $110 million in capital improvements in Oklahoma that will focus primarily on maintenance. BNSF has invested more than $630 million during the last five years to expand and maintain its Oklahoma network.
Oklahoma announces $6 billion in new investments
New and existing companies made more than $6 billion in new investments last year statewide. Of the 83 public announcements made, 23 were from new companies moving into the state in 2017. The investments are expected to lead to the creation of 3,500 new jobs. The largest job expansion was DISH Network’s announcement of 250 new positions in the Tulsa area.
