Regional Economic Development seeks to advance the development of economic regions through coordinated and mutually beneficial efforts in areas such as education, workforce development, business attraction, business retention and expansion, marketing/branding, infrastructure, transportation, and quality of life, for the benefit of all member communities/counties in the region.
Your Regional Economic Development Team
Each region of Oklahoma has a Regional Development Specialist (RDS). Your Regional Development Specialist lives and works in your part of the state and is your liaison to all of Commerce’s services and programs. They provide hands-on assistance, as well as referrals to resource and program providers. Your RDS stands ready to assist your community and region with a wide variety of assistance, in areas such as:
- Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E)
- Community Development and Economic Development
- International Trade
- Business Attraction
- Regional Economic Development Partnership Assistance/Development
- Entrepreneurship
- Workforce Development
Find Your Regional Development Specialist
Regional Economic Development Partnerships
The Regional Development Team assists in the formation of regional partnerships, while offering ongoing support to existing partnerships.
Regional partnerships afford communities the opportunity to expand existing businesses and attract new ones through an expanded array of human and financial resources. By effectively marketing these resources, regions are able to boast an expanded workforce and a larger variety of available site locations, financial incentives, capital formation pools, and tourism attractions.
To start a regional partnership or join an existing one contact your Regional Development Specialist or call us at 800-879-6552.
Find Partnerships by Region
Southwest
Southwest Oklahoma Impact Coalition (SOIC) is a 20-county regional partnership composed of higher education institutions, technology centers and two sub-state planning districts. SOIC serves Beckham, Blaine, Caddo, Canadian, Comanche, Cotton, Custer, Dewey, Grady, Greer, Harmon, Jackson, Jefferson, Kingfisher, Kiowa, McClain, Roger Mills, Stephens, Tillman and Washita counties.
(405) 574-1368
www.soiconline.org
Oklahoma Southwest Alliance (OSA) is a coalition of communities and counties working together to impact development and prosperity in Southwest Oklahoma. OSA is currently extending membership to all communities and counties in SW Oklahoma.
www.okswa.com
For more information, contact
Christy Elkins
SW Regional Development Specialist
(405) 596-0080
christy_elkins@okcommerce.gov
Southeast
Oklahoma Southeast (OKSE) serves 22 counties in Southeast Oklahoma with a primary mission of marketing the region for business attraction and economic development. OKSE membership includes Atoka, Bryan, Carter, Choctaw, Cleveland, Coal, Garvin, Haskell, Hughes, Johnston, Latimer, LeFlore, Love, Marshall, McCurtain, McIntosh, Murray, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Pushmataha and Seminole counties.
www.oklahomasoutheast.com
Texoma Regional Consortium (TRC) is a multi-county, multi-state regional partnership, bringing together economic and workforce development, higher education, business and industry. Oklahoma counties served by TRC include Atoka, Bryan, Carter, Coal, Garvin, Johnson, Love, Marshall, Murray and Pontotoc.
http://trcteam.org
For more information, contact
Glenn Glass
SE Regional Development Specialist
(405) 596-1640
glenn_glass@okcommerce.gov
Northeast
Northeast Oklahoma Regional Alliance (NORA) is a regional partnership composed of the Sequoyah, Adair and Cherokee County Boards of Commissioners, the communities of Tahlequah, Sallisaw, Stilwell, Gore, and Vian, and the Cherokee Nation.
www.neokregion.org
Rogers County Industrial Services Roundtable (RCISR) meets regularly to address issues facing communities within Rogers County, including business retention and expansion, workforce and workforce training.
Tulsa Area Partnership (TAP) is a 20-county regional economic development partnership serving Adair, Cherokee, Craig, Creek, Delaware, Haskell, Mayes, McIntosh, Muskogee, Nowata, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Payne, Pittsburg, Sequoyah, Tulsa, and Washington counties.
(918) 542-6880
www.tulsaareapartnership.com
Fort Smith Regional Economic Development Alliance is a collaborative organization of communities within a 50-mile radius of Fort Smith. Roland, Sallisaw, Muldrow and Poteau comprise the Oklahoma membership along with five Arkansas communities.
(479) 783-3111
www.fsregionalalliance.org
For more information, contact
Lisa Clark
NE Regional Development Specialist
(918) 323-1411
lisa_clark@okcommerce.gov
Northwest
Northwest Oklahoma Alliance (NwOA) for economic development is an organization designed to coordinate, consolidate, develop and promote regional resources, providing a platform to unite Northwest Oklahoma. NWOA serves 19 counties: Alfalfa, Beaver, Beckham, Blaine, Canadian, Cimarron, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Garfield, Grant, Harper, Kay, Kingfisher, Major, Roger Mills, Texas, Woods, and Woodward.
www.nwoka.com
Panhandle Regional Economic Development Coalition, Inc. (PREDCI) is a non-profit organization funded by member donations, serving the Oklahoma Panhandle, Southwest Kansas, and northern portion of the Texas Panhandle.
(580) 338-8500
www.predci.com
Oklahoma Wildlife & Prairie Heritage Alliance (OWPHA) is a 33-county coalition in Western Oklahoma, formed to enhance conservation efforts of the short- and mixed-grass prairie’s diverse habitat and unique wildlife.
(580) 727-1537
www.owpha.org
For more information, contact
Stan Ralstin
NW Regional Development Specialist
(405) 219-9446
stan_ralstin@okcommerce.gov
OKC Metro
GreaterOKC Partnership encompasses a 10-county region composed of Canadian, Cleveland, Grady, Kingfisher, Lincoln, Logan, McClain, Oklahoma, Payne and Pottawatomie counties.
(405) 297-8900
www.greateroklahomacity.com
Central Oklahoma Regional Development (CORD) is composed of a 10-community region which includes the metro and non-metro communities of El Reno, Kingfisher, Piedmont, Hinton, Okarche, Watonga, Geary, Calumet, Minco, and Union City.
(405) 422-2345
www.cordok.org
Eastern Oklahoma County Partnership (EOCP) is a community and economic development partnership serving the eastern Oklahoma County communities of Choctaw, Harrah, Jones, Luther; and the Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center.
(405) 390-5339
www.eocpartnership.com
For more information, contact
Rob Gragg
OKC Metro Regional Development Specialist
(405) 596-0314
rob_gragg@okcommerce.gov