Business and community leaders in Oklahoma City and throughout the state got some good news last week when Forbes Magazine named Oklahoma City the most “recession-proof” metropolitan area in the country.
Forbes examined the nation’s 50 largest metro areas and considered employment figures, home prices and foreclosures. Oklahoma City, because of a strong and stable housing market and a boom in the energy and agricultural sectors, outperformed every other major city in the country.
That’s great news not just for business people and entrepreneurs in the state’s largest city; it’s also good news for families across the state who hear dire predictions of recession on the nightly news. The economies in Oklahoma City and Tulsa are going strong, despite the lackluster national economy, and that will help carry our state through any economic downturn.
The magazine’s recognition is also a signal to companies looking for safe places to invest or expand in uncertain times. The ranking is a testament to the hard work of state and local officials who have worked hard to foster new business and industry — such as tourism and hospitality, aerospace or biotechnology — while still maintaining support for sectors such as energy and agriculture, which have been Oklahoma mainstays for a century.
In fact, Forbes said key growth areas for Oklahoma City are construction and the leisure and hospitality industry. That relates to another recent ranking: AAA rated Tulsa the least expensive travel destination among 49 large cities. Oklahoma City came in fourth on that list.
A top national ranking from an organization like AAA means a lot.
With families across the country looking to spread their vacation dollars further, that makes our state a great place to visit this summer. Oklahoma can offer a little of everything — from urban sophistication to rural retreats — along with that renowned Oklahoma hospitality.
We’ve long known about and enjoyed Oklahoma’s affordable cost of living, great travel opportunities and sensible housing market. Now, the rest of the country is catching on.
If you have questions or comments, write me at the Office of the Governor, Room 212, Oklahoma City OK 73105 or visit the “Contact the Governor” section of my Web site, www.governor.ok.gov.
