Claremore Economic Development on Tuesday told the City Council the city and county saw $99,000,000 in capital investment and 660 new jobs in the last quarter, and officials described a workforce scholarship program that has enrolled nearly 300 applicants and awarded 235 scholarships.

The update matters because local officials say the investments and the scholarships aim to feed a growing demand for skilled workers in manufacturing and related trades in Rogers County, including CNC machining and commercial driving.

Maggie Dolan, representing Claremore Economic Development, told the council, "the last quarter alone, we've celebrated $99,000,000 of capital investment, number 660 jobs being created, on behalf of the work that the team at Claremore economic development has fostered alongside of those companies." She said the program has accepted nearly 300 applicants and awarded 235 scholarships and that officials expect the program to "tip the $500,000 mark before the end of the program." Dolan also said the temporary tranche of funding will close in December and staff are "working on obtaining permanent funding for that to continue, but there will be a little pause."

Braylee Franks, the talent initiatives coordinator, described program activities including a Career Connections partnership with Sequoia Public Schools and Northeast Tech and a student-led career expo. Franks said the program will bring roughly 14 manufacturing employers to Claremore High School for Manufacturing Month events and expects about 1,100 students to attend.

Councilors and staff pressed for outcomes and timelines. Franks said the program has a 62% response rate on graduate outcomes surveys; "of those that have responded, thus far, 72% are employed," she said. She noted many training options are short-term (six to ten weeks) and that education for the current funding cycle must conclude in 2026.

Speakers also discussed demographic and program trends. Dolan said the two largest recipient age groups are "18–24 and 50–55," and that a significant portion of the new jobs—about 185 of the 660 cited—are for CNC machining. Staff said they are working with Northeast Tech to better align training with employer needs, and noted barriers such as transportation that motivated inclusion of driver's education and CDL training tracks in the scholarship program.

Officials emphasized the temporary nature of current funding. Dolan said the initial program funding grew from an original $50,000 to larger tranches and that one final tranche was expected in the coming weeks. Staff said they have not actively marketed the scholarship broadly because permanent funding has not been secured and they need to measure demand before scaling.

Council members suggested continued partnership with local schools and employers to close skill gaps. Dolan and Franks said they plan targeted outreach and to use employer feedback—such as direct tours of local CNC shops—to fine-tune training and credentialing.

Details and numbers discussed at the meeting: 235 scholarships awarded (from nearly 300 applicants), roughly 72% employment among survey respondents (62% response rate), anticipated program funding approaching $500,000, 660 jobs cited in the quarter with about 185 in CNC-related roles, and a program closeout scheduled for December with final education completion allowed through 2026.

Claremore Economic Development asked council members to note the temporary funding pause while staff seek permanent sources and to continue supporting partnerships with Northeast Tech, local schools and employers.