Pittsburg County schedules two public hearings on proposed Emerald ProjectCo data center and tax‑incentive districts

The Pittsburg County Board of County Commissioners on May 18 approved public notice of two hearings on a proposed Emerald ProjectCo data center project and the creation of tax‑incentive districts that would apply to new construction in the development area. Chairman Ross Selman said the board set hearings for 6 p.m. on June 8 and June 22 at the Southeast Expo Center in McAlester.

The hearings will consider an Economic Development Project Plan under the Oklahoma Local Development Act (62 O.S. § 850 et seq.) that proposes partial abatement of ad valorem taxes on qualifying new construction and investments within two proposed Tax Incentive Districts. The legal advertisement filed by the county indicates the plan would divide an approximately 2,000‑acre site in Pittsburg County into two incentive districts, each corresponding to a phase of the project; incentives would be earned only through actual construction and investment.

The county clerk’s notice says the June 8 meeting will present information and an impact analysis, while the June 22 meeting will let members of the public be heard prior to any vote. The county emphasizes the plan does not impose new or existing taxes; rather, it offers local tax incentives and contemplates the county and affected taxing entities receiving incremental ad valorem revenues and specified annual payments in exchange.

The legal notice provides a detailed, parcel‑level description of the proposed districts and lists the Southeast Expo Center as the hearing venue. Commissioners did not vote at the May 18 meeting to adopt any incentives; they only approved public notice of the hearings. Next steps after the June 22 hearing would include any formal vote to adopt the Project Plan and to establish the tax‑incentive districts. Copies of the Project Plan are available at the county clerk’s office, 115 E. Carl Albert Parkway, Room 103, McAlester, during business hours.

Why this matters: If adopted, the plan would create locally administered tax incentives tied to new investment and infrastructure for a major data‑center project. The hearings are the public’s next opportunity to review detailed maps, fiscal analyses and proposed incentive schedules before any vote.