Oklahoma Commerce

Oklahoma's Site Certification Program, Site Ready

Oklahoma's Site Ready Certification Program assures a site selector that a quality site is available in minimal time, positioning Oklahoma and its communities to maximize economic development opportunities.

Program Overview
The Oklahoma Department of Commerce, in partnership with PSO and OG&E launched Site Ready, Oklahoma's site certification program for new investment and retention of expanding industry in the State of Oklahoma.

Program Purpose
The purpose of Site Ready is to place Oklahoma in a position to further capitalize on economic development opportunities. With an inventory of sites that are certified for immediate investment and development, Oklahoma will proactively serve the needs of businesses.

A secondary objective of Site Ready is to prepare Oklahoma communities to accommodate new business prospect inquiries. By going through the application process, communities will have the opportunity to learn what the relevant needs for various projects are and how to strategically plan to address those needs.

Targeted Projects
Within Site Ready, there are eight general types of projects. An independent, third-party consultant has developed Generic Site Profiles, Project Profiles, and Project Musts and Wants for each of the following eight project types.

  • Mega Park
  • Aerospace Park
  • Heavy Industrial Park
  • Light Industrial Park
  • Warehouse / Distribution Park
  • Business Services Park
  • Research and Development Park
  • Rural Business / Commerce Park

Click on the parks on the right hand side of this page to review the profile that describes each of the projects and explains the framework of requirements and desirable characteristics for each of the project types. Based on its strategic objectives, the community or regional partnership will select the use that best fits its site with respect to the project profiles.

An independent, third-party consultant, in cooperation with Commerce, has developed applications for each profile.  The applications solicit information regarding the community’s/site’s qualifications for the program.  Each application address both general program issues and more specific project issues. Please see the PowerPoint PresentationProgram Requirements Flowchart - MUSTs that highlights the review process for the program requirements.

The independent, third-party consultant will evaluate the applications submitted and determine which sites have the best potential to meet the program and project requirements. In order to be considered for the program, applications must be completed and submitted to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce no later than October 4, 2010. Due to the large anticipated response, Commerce will not be able to accept partially completed applications nor will Commerce be able to review documents that are not directly pertinent to the application. Pertinent documentation includes site-specific materials such as topographic maps, flood plain maps, aerial photos, etc., as requested in the applications. All community information should be addressed in the format of the application itself.

Based on the results of application evaluations, the independent, third-party consultant, and Commerce will visit all qualified sites. The consultant will verify submitted data and evaluate site suitability for the respective project uses. Once the site visits have been completed, the independent, third-party consultant will provide a relative ranking of sites to Commerce.



Program Timetable

Milestone

Date

Applications Due to Commerce 

April 5, 2010

Application Review 

April and May 2010

Site Visits

June and July 2010

Recommendation of Sites to Commerce 

July 2010

Next Round of Applications Due to Commerce 

October 4, 2010 

 

Please direct any questions or comments regarding the OK Site Certification Program to:

Jeremy Zeller
Program Manager
Office of Community DevelopmentOklahoma Department of Commerce
900 North Stiles Ave.
Oklahoma City, Ok 73104
Tel: 405-815-5214
Fax: 405-605-2807

 

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