Tulsa Regional Chamber comments on 2023 State of the State address

Please attribute the following to Mike Neal, president and CEO of the Tulsa Regional Chamber:

“The Tulsa Regional Chamber fully supports Gov. Kevin Stitt’s commitment to strengthen Oklahoma’s reputation as one of the most business-friendly states in the nation. We look forward to working with the governor, his cabinet and state legislators to further strengthen Oklahoma’s business recruitment and expansion tools as the third fastest growing state economy in the nation.

“We applaud the governor’s call to increase teacher pay to keep talented teachers in the state and attract more individuals into the profession. We look forward to hearing more details on this proposal, as well as the Innovation School Fund and expansive reading initiative. We agree with the governor that our children are our greatest asset and applaud efforts to ensure they receive the education necessary to prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow.

“One of the most crucial hurdles for businesses in Oklahoma right now is finding well-trained workforce to fill necessary positions. We strongly support the focus the governor has on this issue and his commitment to train the workforce of tomorrow. Sustainable support for higher education and investment in workforce development programs has been a OneVoice Regional Legislative Agenda priority for years, and we are encouraged to see the attention on this issue in the governor’s remarks. We appreciate the governor’s continued leadership on reducing Oklahoma’s incarceration rate and helping formerly incarcerated Oklahomans reintegrate into the workforce and society.

“One of Oklahoma’s greatest strengths is our robust energy production. We support the call to the legislature to continue to support this bedrock of the Oklahoma economy.

“We were pleased to hear the governor’s commitment to growing our aerospace and defense sector. We share the governor’s vision of Oklahoma becoming a regional hub for Advanced Aerial Mobility and unmanned aircraft. The Tulsa Regional Advanced Mobility Cluster will attract new business and encourage economic growth for the entire region. We fully support continued investments in these industries as called for by Gov. Stitt today.

“We are excited about the opportunities this session to position Oklahoma for long-term success. We at the Chamber are eager to work with all our elected officials to ensure northeast Oklahoma residents and businesses prosper.”