Gov. Henry Signs Quality Job Program Bill

By Jennifer Pierce, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Despite the national recession, Oklahoma is becoming an attractive place to do business. Governor Brad Henry has signed legislation to bring high paying jobs to Oklahoma.

State officials want to build what they call a knowledge-based economy. And the new legislation signed by the governor helps expand a program that has already brought thousands of jobs to the state.

Chaparral Energy is one company that has taken advantage of the state's Quality Job Program.

"Chaparral has been part of the quality job program for more than 10 years," John Kilgallon with Chaparral Energy said. "We've benefitted $2.5 million from the program and it's been a nice incentive for us to hire and retain quality employees."

The company receives cash incentives for creating jobs. The incentives have also lured big names like Dell, Gatorade and Google to do business in Oklahoma.

"It literally put Oklahoma on the map of site consultants, they are the folks that bring business to the state," Oklahoma Department of Commerce Secretary Natalie Shirley said.

Shirley says the 15 year program has been successful, but now it's time to take it to the next level.

"Over the past couple of years we have looked at where we want the state to go," Shirley said.

And that is in the direction of developing biotechnology, aerospace and advanced manufacturing, just to name a few.

The new laws signed by Governor Henry will lure those types of companies and could result in Oklahoma employees receiving six-figure salaries.

The businesses that create high paying jobs will receive a cash rebate of up to 10 percent of its payroll; an incentive that is already getting attention.

"We actually have deals that we're working right now in commerce and we hope will come to fruition," Shirley said.