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Oklahoma’s Site Ready Program Adds Additional Sites

For Immediate Release: March 03, 2008

March 3, 2008 -- Sallisaw and Tahlequah recently added their industrial parks to the Oklahoma Site Ready Program, which is managed by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. These latest additions bring the total number of sites in the program to 28.

"The Site Ready Program is one of our greatest tools for businesses looking to relocate or expand in Oklahoma," said Natalie Shirley, Secretary of Commerce and Tourism. "When a community has a certified site, it lets business locators and site consultants know that they are ready for growth."

Site Ready seeks to make business relocation, expansion and development in Oklahoma as inviting as possible. In partnership with OG&E and PSO, Commerce works to capitalize on economic development opportunities through community efforts employing the program.

The Sallisaw site is the Roy Frye Jr. Industrial Park, and the Tahlequah Business and Industry Park has been certified in Tahlequah.  

"The Sallisaw Improvement Corporation chose to apply for the Site Ready Program in an effort to increase the visibility and marketing ability of our Industrial Park," said Judy Martens, Executive Director of the Sallisaw Improvement Corporation. "We felt that the potential of filling our Park was much greater by being certified through Commerce.  This type of certification gives Sallisaw and our Industrial Park much more validity to businesses and industries looking to locate in our region."

"After becoming aware of the Site Ready Program, the potential benefits for the City of Tahlequah were obvious,” said Tahlequah Mayor Ken Purdy. "The Site Ready Program will enhance our efforts to gain the market exposure we seek and to effectively compete with other communities that have similar interests."  

The site certification program debuted in Oklahoma in 2006 and now has 28 sites in the following communities: Alva, Ardmore, Bartlesville, Chickasha, Claremore, Duncan, Enid, Eufaula, Fairview, Hobart, Norman, Oklahoma City, Ponca City, Sallisaw, Stillwater, Tahlequah and Wagoner.

By putting commercial and industrial properties through a rigorous qualification, inspection, and third-party verification process, the Oklahoma Site Ready Certification Program ensures that properties stamped Site Ready are: available for sale or lease immediately; ready to build, with all utilities and other infrastructure in place, pre-permitted, or planned; and clear of regulatory landmines.

Receiving certified status guarantees a prospective incoming business that the site is ready for construction. As businesses attempt to minimize risk, locations with shovel-ready sites emerge as top choices.

In addition to capitalizing on economic development opportunities, Site Ready aims to prepare Oklahoma communities to accommodate new business prospect inquiries, learn about various industry project needs and strategically plan to address them.

The Oklahoma Site Ready Program targets industries such as aerospace, research, industrial and rural business. Sites can be classified as one of eight project types.

Visit www.OKcommerce.gov/siteready for detailed site- and community-specific information, including proximity to major transportation routes, area labor force statistics, nearby community profiles, utilities, cost of living details, and business incentives for site selectors’ consideration.

Applications for the most recent round of the Oklahoma Site Ready Program were due in October. While the department continually accepts applications, the next application due date will be March 31.

Applications, as well as additional program information, are available online at www.OKcommerce.gov/sites. For more information about the application process, call Jeremy Zeller, site certification program manager with the Commerce Department, at 405-815-5214 or e-mail jeremy_zeller@OKcommerce.gov.