Southwest Oklahoma Impact Coalition (SOIC)

Members:

Cameron University (Center for Emerging Technology and Entrepreneurial Studies-CETES), Lawton;

Redlands Community College (RCC), El Reno;

Southwestern Oklahoma State University (Center for Economic & Business Development), Weatherford;

University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO), Chickasha;

Western Oklahoma State College (WOSC), Altus;

Association of South Central Oklahoma Governments (ASCOG), Duncan;

South Western Oklahoma Development Authority (SWODA), Burns Flat;

and the Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, Concho.

Purpose:

The SOIC, a partnership comprised of five higher education institutions and two councils of governments (COGs), links the resources of higher education, communities, and businesses to identify the area's most pressing workforce and economic issues and to coordinate efforts to develop solutions.

History:

Gary Gorshing, Executive Director of the Southwestern Oklahoma Development Authority; and Blaine Smith, Executive Director of the Association of South Central Oklahoma Governments first discussed partnering in December 2004.

The two hoped to secure competitive funding from the Economic Development Administration (U.S. Department of Commerce) and establish a university center at Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

SWOSU agreed to be the applicant, and other area universities and colleges met to discuss forming an alliance. SWOSU provided the matching funds required by EDA and the others agreed to provide the center continued support. EDA approved funding in August 2004, establishing the EDA University Center at SWOSU, which serves along with Cameron University's CETES, and SWOSU's Center for Economic & Business Development as a research and training resource for businesses and communities.

Meetings between ASCOG, SWODA and the educational entities continued as they started recognizing other mutual business and economic development concerns. In April 2006, SOIC formally organized as an Oklahoma nonprofit.

Project Overview:

SOIC's first standing committee, the Front Line Team, used the e-Synchronist survey and analysis tool to talk with manufacturers and owners of convention, retail, tourism, and service businesses in 17 counties to find out what they needed to expand operations, retain employees, recruit skilled workers, and stay competitive.

"Through the e-Synchronist program, we actually found out first hand what our CEOs in the region are concerned about; what their issues and problems are; and how they're doing," says Marvin Hankins, SOIC member and Director of SWOSU's Center for Economic & Business Development, which holds the e-Synchonist license for the partnership. "Establishing that relationship is fundamental to all we do."

According to Marilyn Feaver, SOIC's Executive Director, the following issues emerged:

• reliable and consistent cell phone service and wireless Internet capability;
• water quality and quantity;
• support for small business expansion;
• manufacturers in the region struggle to meet the high costs of workman's compensation and health insurance;
• problems associated with power surges and outages;
• inadequate child care;
• workforce training and development needs to focus on work ethic as well as skills;
• worker shortages, including nurses and other health care professionals.

SOIC shares its initial and ongoing e-Synchronist survey findings and conclusions during conferences that target local businesses, community leaders, elected officials, and tribal groups. The partnership also leads focus groups at companies and community organizations to drill down even deeper to find out what the region needs -- workforce training, tourism promotions, affordable housing, and business incentives.

And SOIC's website, www.soiconline.org, includes a discussion forum, encouraging the exchange of ideas, comments, and solution suggestions.

As a side note, the SOIC Front Line Team won the "Raising the Bar" 2006 Synchronist Award at the annual Synchronist User's Forum. More than 450 economic development organizations from the United States and Canada were considered.

Benefits:

According to Feaver, connecting area businesses and communities with higher education results in several benefits, including:

• internships designed to develop a skilled and dedicated workforce;
• coordinated curriculum development between higher education and industry that delivers the knowledge and skills workers need now and in the future;
• customized studies on business competitors and worker availability; Examples: SOIC Regional Economic Indicators and SOIC Demographic.

Based on e-Synchronist data, SOIC initiated a collaborative effort with other groups in the area to plan and implement grants and training programs to double the number of nurses available to the region in the next three years. Data from e-Synchronist and Economic Modeling Specialists Inc. (EMSI) show the region will have 650 new and replacement nursing positions to fill within the next five years.

Next Steps:

Currently, SOIC teams are developing individual action plans to address the region's priority needs. The teams are conducting follow up interviews, making detailed recommendations, searching for funding sources, and outlining the strategies and next steps for each issue.

Feaver and Hankins say the individual plans will then be compiled into a comprehensive strategic plan for the region's workforce and economic development efforts.

"With all the e-Synchronist data we've collected, we now have a clear development vision for our region," Feaver says. "We're not just throwing resources at what we think are the problems, we know for certain what we need to do to help our communities and our businesses thrive."