Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Economic development director reports progress on airport, industrial park and recruitment leads
Summary
City economic-development staff briefed council on airport parking work, industrial-park prospects including Project Building Block (plastic resin) and Project Jaguar (solar-panel assembly), and an unnamed potential investment under NDA described as a "game changer."
At the mayor's request, the city's economic development director provided a mid-session update on recruitment and local projects.
The director said work began on the airport parking lot funded with PREP program funds and that the industrial-park center extension is on schedule. He reported contractor delays on the airport terminal and said staff is exploring options to expedite the terminal work.
The city has received interest from multiple site selectors. The director described three prospects:
- "Project Building Block," a plastic-resin manufacturer that views McAlester favorably because of regional highway access; the company is one of several areas under consideration and has not released employment or payroll details.
- "Project Jaguar," a solar-panel assembly operation with heavy industrial wastewater needs (including heavy metals and fluoride). The company initially was not a fit given the city's wastewater capacity; staff said the company proposed building an on-site industrial wastewater treatment plant in a public-private partnership that the city would operate and maintain if the company proceeds.
- An unnamed third project that the director said would be a "game changer" if it closed; staff is under a nondisclosure agreement and provided no additional details.
The director also said the city is digitizing economic development, tourism and airport records to improve responsiveness to public-records requests and noted traffic counts on Highway 69 at about 33,000 vehicles per day.
Councilors asked clarifying questions about site infrastructure, utility capacity and potential timelines; staff said Project Jaguar would require a large capital investment and that discussions are ongoing.
