Over the last several years, Oklahoma has seen a rise in the number of families and businesses moving to towns and cities in the rural areas, attracted by the lower cost of living and less stressful lifestyle.
“The thing about Oklahoma is that it's so easy to get around,” said Jim Cowan, president and CEO of the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council.
“We offer that small town feel wherein everybody knows your name, yet the manufacturing that happens here does business all over the world. We have small manufacturing companies here with anywhere from 50 employees on the low end to 175 employees on the high end. They find it really easy to do business here as they are able to ship their products anywhere in the world. We're selling our location and the small town feel. But, we are near major interstates and the amenities offered in bigger areas,” he added.
Cowan points out that more businesses have considered quality of life when scouting for their next location.
“We are pushing our quality of life here. The actual truth is that we are investing in ourselves and building new parks. We are passing school bonds to make our schools better. It is really that simple. We want to be a great place where people want to live,” Cowan said.
It appears that Chickasha County’s efforts is paying off. Through business-friendly policies and significant investments in its public infrastructure and manpower, the county welcomed new businesses over the last two years amid the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
