MAIP's Success Story

The Claremore Daily Progress

Clarice Doyle

Published May 4, 2007

It was a rumor. Now, it’s a fact.

Google is coming to MidAmerica Industrial Park in neighboring Mayes County.

It’s big.

Big as in big like the Gatorade plant announcement in 2006.

Big as in a big boost for Oklahoma’s image as a technology-friendly state.

It also signals a dynamic change in direction for Oklahoma’s largest industrial center. Environmentally-friendly businesses are taking root in the fertile soil of Mayes County adding a vibrant contrast to the stereotypical smokestack landscape the Park has known in the past.

MAIP is not a Rogers County entity. It is, however, a job provider less than 20 miles from downtown Claremore. It is a vital piston in northeast Oklahoma’s economic engine. Local economic leaders would be remiss to not examine the MAIP story as an example worth following and a resource to capitalize upon.

Much of the credit for MAIP’s recent success goes to Park Administrator Sanders Mitchell. The former industrial arts teacher-turned industrial leader can now take his place among Mayes County’s business elite. He has been working industrial and economic development for more than three decades. He, more than anyone else, has the benefit of both hindsight and foresight. (The current contingency of young, inexperienced lawmakers and gubernatorial leaders should take note of Mitchell’s leadership style.)

Mitchell does not and will not take credit for bringing Gatorade or Google to the Park. But, he should be given a good portion of the recognition.

Six years ago, Mitchell, his administrative staff and governing board members of Oklahoma Ordnance Works Authority, faced one of the worst economic downturns in the Park’s history. Pryor Foundry, a Park mainstay, was laying off employees and headed for closure. Others were downsizing. Nearly 2,000 jobs disappeared, almost overnight. No prospects were in sight. It didn’t look good.

Mitchell hardly flinched. He urged everyone to stay the course. Change would come.

The Park kept to its conservative investment policies. Millions were not squandered on studies and incentive packages in an attempt to attract jobs for jobs’ sake. Mitchell states with pride that extra incentives weren’t necessary when Gatorade and Google came knocking.

The Park’s asset inventory was enough. Physical assets were in working order —plentiful and low-cost water, plentiful and low-cost power, buildable and accessible land and multiple transportation avenues by land, water and air.

People and resource assets available and accessible —trainable workforce and training for the workforce, positive alliances with OSU-Okmulgee, Northeast Technology Center and Rogers State University, good working relationships with Workforce Oklahoma and the Department of Commerce and direct contact with and support from area lawmakers.

The result: Those six lean years were not wasted time. Mitchell, with the support of OOWA, invested money into the Park’s water treatment plants (both fresh and waste), built roads and buildings and improved the Park’s overall infrastructure — more than $35 million worth. And, the improvements will continue. Another $7.4 million will be spent this year.

He believed change would come. And, it did. MAIP was ready.

Still, Mitchell admits he was pleasantly surprised when Gatorade came calling.

Google’s inquiry precedes even greater potential for the Park. Mitchell now finds himself involved in learning about new technologies and business opportunities, on a daily basis. Some of what he sees and learns is a challenge to comprehend.

That’s why he just smiles when asked — as he is frequently asked nowadays — “Who’s coming next?”.

MAIP has finally taken its rightful place as a leader in Oklahoma’s millennial quest to leap forward in economic stability and growth. It is an Oklahoma success story. If you don’t believe it, grab a Gatorade, power up your Internet and Google “MidAmerica Industrial Park.” MAIP’s success story

— lesson in preparation and change