MIAMI, OKLAHOMA – Growth, and sustaining that growth, is the primary focus behind the creation of the Northeast Oklahoma Economic Development Action Plan.
“One of the things, you know, is there's a new theme park being developed about 20 miles from here near Vinita, Oklahoma. This has created a huge buzz in the entire area,” said Shannon Duhon, president and CEO of the Miami Area Economic Development Service. “.
City of Miami leaders are working to ensure they are well prepared for expected economic growth.
“I don't think Miami has seen anything like this in 40 years. The calls are constantly coming in, we have a lot of people interested in Miami. They like what they're seeing and it's already happening here even before the theme park was built. I think that's important because we have a responsibility to grow Miami,” Duhon said. Whether the theme park is developed or not.”
Miami Area Economic Development Service, Inc. Partner with Community Growth Strategies, LLC to create a game plan for the future of Ottawa County.
“Now is the time because we have a lot of momentum. This is designed to help build on that, not to slow down the momentum that we have, but to help increase it. But to make sure that we are prepared and prepared for that kind of economic growth,” Duhon said.
Since November, numerous individual interviews have been conducted with residents and community leaders, along with approximately 40 focus group interviews.
More input was gathered during a public meeting Tuesday night.
“The strengths were the location was built on the main road near Joplin, near Tulsa, and it's kind of the behavior of the community. Everyone's thinking in the same direction. Some of the weaknesses have to do with some of the blighted areas in Community and maybe some flooding and things like that.
City leaders expect the economic development action plan to be finalized in the first week of March.
