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Wagoner County economic development director outlines retail strategy, site work and a 141‑acre property update
Summary
County economic development presenter Darla Heller briefed the Board on a quarter of activity including retail recruitment work focused on Wagoner and Coweta, plans for the “DAV” building, responses to five RFPs, two confidential site visits and the status of a 141‑acre parcel previously under contract with D.R. Horton.
Darla Heller, the county’s economic development presenter, told the Wagoner County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 4 that the office responded to five requests for proposals this quarter and hosted two confidential site visits from prospective businesses.
Heller said the county has contracted a year‑long retail strategy study, funded by the Wagoner County Economic Development Authority, to perform a retail gap analysis and prepare a property inventory for national retailers. The project will focus on the City of Wagoner, Coweta and a corridor in unincorporated District 1 along state highways referenced as 64, 69 and 51; the study will also provide research for the towns of Porter and Okay.
The work matters because Heller said the study will “inventory all the properties that national retailers would look at and then connect those opportunities with actual leads,” which county leaders hope will help Coweta and Wagoner pursue specific retail prospects.
Heller provided an update on the “DAV” building project in downtown Coweta. She said the county has chosen a contractor-at‑risk and expects to put the project out for bids in the next two weeks. She also reported a subcontract issue: flashing on the roof was not in the original roofer’s scope; Next Level Roofing offered to reattach the flashing and Heller said she has asked the contractor for a cost estimate.
On the Wagoner County Economic Development Authority’s 141‑acre holding, Heller said a prior contract with D.R. Horton expired after the buyer canceled and did not make a new offer during the feasibility period. A new plat was drawn to subdivide the parcel into three lots; Heller said the authority is working with two confidential potential buyers who have discussed extending infrastructure across the entire property to increase its attractiveness for residential development. She said a prior consultant had concluded the parcel’s location and transportation access made it unlikely for industrial or business use.
Heller said a $139,000 grant that had been awarded for a project called “Project Spark” was withdrawn by the applicant and the funds returned to the authority’s available balance.
She also described outreach and marketing efforts: the office continues to update its website and social media, attends trade and consultant shows (including Select Oklahoma and a Tulsa site consultant event), and showed a short promotional video used on recent site visits.
The board had no further questions during the presentation. Heller said she will remain involved throughout the retail study’s year‑long contract and expects fuller updates next quarter.
