A Warm and Diverse Business Climate
NEW JOBS AND GROWTH,
FROM 2000 TO 2007
Year New Jobs
2007 ………………………………. 50
2006 ……………………………… 102
2005 ……………………………….. 52
2004 ……………………………… 124
2003 ……………………………… 280
2002 ……………………………… 198
2001 ……………………………… 475
2000 ……………………………… 100
Total new jobs in past 8 years… 1381
Source:
Reports from individual companies, updated June, 2009
Located on Interstate 35 midway between the metropolitan areas of Dallas/Fort Worth and Oklahoma City, Ardmore, OK is a prime location for attracting new business and industry.
While Ardmore is ideal for economic development, its location also is perfect for travelers and recreation. Nestled in the Arbuckle Mountains, Ardmore is only minutes away from a wide variety of attractions throughout Southern Oklahoma. According to a recent report in The New York Times, “Oklahoma’s central location makes it ideal for transportation-sensitive industries. It’s a strategy that has begun to work for Ardmore.”
Emphasis on Education
Ardmore’s commitment to education is a key factor in making it an outstanding community. The Ardmore City Schools and Plainview Schools work diligently to meet the needs of a diverse student population. A community-wide education initiative known as “Raising the Standards: Excellence in Education” was introduced to challenge students with a rigorous curriculum designed to provide them with the tools to succeed both academically and professionally. “Cornerstones”, the second phase of the project, began a five-year program that introduced an accountability feature into the original standards process. The five-year program has more than $3.3 million pledged.
The Southern Oklahoma Technology Center offers courses designed to develop career or technical skills, and the Ardmore Higher Education Center provides classes in Ardmore from several regional universities.
NEW INDUSTRY & MAJOR EXPANSIONS
Company Type
Amethyst Research,Inc. ………………….. Expansion
Beetle Plastics …………………………….. Expansion
Southwest Silicon Technology …………… Expansion
OnLine Packaging ………………………………. New
Amethyst Research, Inc. ……………………….. New
IMTEC, a 3M Company ………………….. Expansion
IMTEC Imaging ………………………………….. New
Dollar General Corp (Distribution Center)…. Expansion
Dot Foods, Inc. …………………………………… New
Best Buy Distribution Center ……………………. New
Carbonyx …………………………………… Expansion
The Noble Foundation ……………………. Expansion
EJIW Ardmore Foundry ……………………. Expansion
IMTEC Corporation ………………………… Expansion
Michelin North America ……………………. Expansion
The Noble Foundation …………………….. Expansion
Dollar Tree Stores (Distribution Center)………… New
Carbonyx ………………………………………….. New
Michelin North America ……………………. Expansion
Source: Reports from individual companies, updated June, 2009
Global MarketPlace
The strength of Ardmore is displayed in the diversity of its economic structure including energy, agriculture, aviation, industry and research. Its industrial sector includes Michelin North America. Aviation companies that have benefited from a former Air Force base-turned-Industrial Airpark include Japan Air Lines, McDonnell Douglas, Ryder Systems and AAR. Companies like Noble Energy and Slaughter Company attract and employ professional engineers and scientists from all over the world. The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation’s 60 scientists were recruited from throughout the U.S. and 15 foreign countries. Ardmore’s proposed International Trade Center also has helped usher in plans for a new MG Motors Assembly Plant.
Ardmore is a progressive community where the rural work ethic combines with a quality of life that provides an excellent environment for economic development.
Business Incubator Fosters Research & Development in Biotechnology
In 2005, The Ardmore Development Authority, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation and the Southern Oklahoma Technology Center (SOTC) formed a partnership to create a business incubator, the Ardmore Technology Transfer Center, to recruit and retain technology oriented companies to Ardmore, OK.
The advantages to a tenant locating in the incubator include more affordable lease space and access to an array of on-site managerial, administrative and financial services that assist the companies in overcoming challenges faced in the market place. In addition, tenants are exempt from state tax liability on income earned on activities conducted at the incubator for up to ten years. The exemption is valid after the company moves out of the incubator.
The ADA, with the help of the Noble Foundation, has established Ardmore as part of the Oklahoma Biotechnology Corridor which includes Stillwater, the Greater Oklahoma City Area and Ardmore. The potential for professional collaborations with the Noble Foundation also serves as an attraction to prospective companies.
The Technology Transfer Center has received accreditation from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and two companies, IMTEC Imaging LLC and Amethyst Research, Inc., are located in the incubator. The long-term objective of this project is to create a technology park in Ardmore focused on commercial ventures based on scientific research.
