Southeast Oklahoma EC
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State: Oklahoma
Counties (Census Tracts): McCurtain (9987, 9988), Choctaw (9969, 9970, 9972, 9973)
Community Population: 12,955
Community Area: 242 sq. mi.
Poverty Rate: 39%
Unemployment Rate: 11.3% in McCurtain and 15.7% in Choctaw
Per Capita Income: $8,200 in McCurtain and $7,400 in Choctaw
Education: 43% of those over the age of 25 do not have a high school diploma.
Overview
The Oklahoma Enterprise Community includes three municipalities in Choctaw County and one in McCurtain County. Little Dixie Community Action Agency, Inc (LDCAA) and the Kiamichi Economic Development district of Oklahoma lead the planning and implementation aspects of the strategic plan. Originally chartered in 1968, LDCAA operates several programs with a total budget of more than $6 million per year. The agency has developed and operated many successful programs with several federal and state funding agencies.
LDCAA envisions a community successfully linked with economic, human, physical, community development and other activities to meet the community goals. Major goals include: employment with better than minimum wage positions; expansion of tourism; and diversification of industries, expansion of agriculture and timber industries such as furniture manufacturing and additional agricultural products (e.g., aquaculture and exotic animals); reduction in rural isolation and bolstering development by highway and airport improvements. The community also seeks to improve safety, affordable health care, affordable housing, a state-of-the-art education system, and a modern infrastructure.
Key Activities
Economic Opportunity:
The overall objective for the Economic Development Area is to empower residents and achieve success by creating jobs and a skilled work force. The agency will create a public/private organization to coordinate policy, planning, education and development for a Southeast Oklahoma telecommunications network. The telecommunications network in turn will educate citizens and businesses in telecommunications, local community development through telecommunications, and establish a comprehensive process to provide telecommunications to the rural areas of Southeast Oklahoma. This telecommunications infrastructure will serve to stimulate economic growth in existing business and in new business opportunities.
Little Dixie Community Action Agency has initiated an entrepreneurial development program to help low-income individuals to acquire the skills necessary to enter a business and provide financing and training to start the business. The program offers loans from $500 to $10,000 with variable terms and interest. Applicants are required to meet low-income requirements. Also incorporated is the establishment of a $2 million revolving loan fund for prospective industry to revitalize industrial development efforts.
Sprockets and gears manufacturers interested in locating in the Choctaw County's regional industrial park include manufacturers of plastic injection molding; automotive bumpers; dog food distributors; refrigerated warehouses; paper sack manufacturers; wood product manufactures; steel coil manufacturers; and others. Two additional buildings will be constructed to accommodate anticipated business expansion and the new industry incubators.
Participating entities include: The Kiamichi Corridor Authority, the Hugo Historical Society and the Kiamichi Railroad, the Rural Enterprises, Inc, and theOklahoma Business Forum.
Sustainable Economic and Community Development:
The development will be through creation of a development model revolving around an industrial building program. The program will create a total of 650 new jobs and produce $286,000 gross operating capital per year. A One-Stop Capital Shop will be a chance for success based on the community partnerships which are in place.
Major Public Sector Commitments:
State Government Resources:
The state has set aside $150,000 for the revolving loan program.
Federal Government Resources:
Funding for this action is estimated at $5 million to come from the Economic Development Administration, Department of Commerce (Economic Development Grants for Public Works and Development Facilities).
Major Private Sector Commitments
A partnership arrangement has been made with Rural Enterprise, Inc, for a One-Stop Capital Shop. Several industrial and manufacturing firms including the Kiamichi Railroad are interest in locating in the incubator.
Contact:
Name: Bob Yandell Address: 502 West Duke Street Hugo, OK 74743 Phone: 580-326-3351 Fax: 580-326-2305 Email: byandell@littledixie.org
