Norman Aiming to Keep, Bring New Jobs Into City

Gan Matthews, News 9

NORMAN, Oklahoma – The Norman Chamber of Commerce and the Norman Economic Development Council (NECD) are trying to bring new jobs to the city.

It's estimated that 70,000 Cleveland County residents commute to Oklahoma County every day for work.  A majority of those commuters live in Norman.

Norman leaders are now moving to develop more employment opportunities in the city, and protect the businesses they already have.

Norman's NECD Director, Don Wood, pointed to the city's Hitachi plant as an example. Hitachi was thinking about consolidating or relocating its plant out of Norman.

"We were able to make a case using incentives that the state of Oklahoma has to make that consolidation and relocation here in Norman," Wood said.

As a result, 300 Norman jobs were saved. Hitachi has also added about 150 new jobs to its plant.

The Norman Chamber of Commerce is trying to attract new businesses to town by emphasizing local advantages such as the University of Oklahoma and Norman's research park.

Recently the NECD purchased 30 acres of land in the University North Park addition, which is the site of a future business park complex.