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Dallas is coming our way.

Nestled at the slopes of the scenic Arbuckle Mountains in southern Oklahoma lays the friendly and prosperous community of Ardmore, Oklahoma.

Take Interstate 35 south across the Red River for 90 minutes and you’ll find the burgeoning northern suburbs of Dallas.

Within 90 miles of Ardmore, Oklahoma you’ll find clear blue lakes, rolling hills, woods and wildlife – and a regional market of over 6.5 million people.

Discover the strategic location and open-air lifestyle that Ardmore, Oklahoma offers to expanding companies.

No wonder Dallas is coming our way.

 

 

 

A Welcome Message to Site Selectors

Get more. Save more. Earn more. Ardmore.

Welcome to the economic development website of Ardmore, Oklahoma, designed with the business site selector in mind. Here you’ll find data and information about Ardmore and our pro-business outlook.

Get more.
Ardmore offers a single point of contact for information, proposals, planning, and site assistance. Since we own four industrial parks and several single sites and buildings, we have both the power and incentive to negotiate favorable terms for expanding companies. Factor in Oklahoma’s new right-to-work status and a host of business incentives, and you’ll simply get more in Ardmore.

Save more.
The cost of doing business in Ardmore, Oklahoma is significantly less than most of the nation. Low construction costs, utility rates, overhead, housing costs, and taxes make Ardmore, Oklahoma a highly desirable business location.

Earn more.
When you get more and save more, you earn more. New and expanding companies often tell us that locating in Ardmore, Oklahoma was one of their best business decisions.

Take a good look at Ardmore. We think you’ll like what you see. Please call me personally if we can help you in any way!

Sincerely,

Wes Stucky
580-223-6162
 wstucky@ardmore.org

 

Wes Stucky,
President and CEO
Ardmore Development Authority

Ardmore is a great location but the biggest selling point is the Ardmore Development Authority and it’s president Wes Stucky. Their national reputation is well deserved – and had it not been for them, this facility would be in Texas.

Mike Mullis
Site consultant
East Jordan Iron Works – Ardmore Foundry

We have many plants in North America and always recommend to those communities that they model their program after the Ardmore Development Authority. The ADA is considered a partner to our business.

Gary Scheide, Plant manager
Michelin North America

Ardmore packaged our facility and put together a difficult deal that most communities could not do.

Kelly Burke, President
Southwest Silicon Technologies

 

 

Key Quotes and Stories

Read what business leaders are saying about Ardmore, Oklahoma as a place to grow or expand a business.

Michelin North America
“We have many plants in North America and always recommend to those communities that they model their program after the Ardmore Development Authority. The ADA is considered a partner to our business.”

Dave Brenner
Plant Manager
Michelin North America
East Jordan Iron Works – Ardmore Foundry
“We looked at about 20 different sites across the South Central U. S. and chose Ardmore, Oklahoma. It’s a beautiful area in the southern part of Oklahoma with hills and lakes. We had to bring in a few folks from out of state to run our foundry, and they really enjoy living in this community. Those people we hired locally have a really good work ethic.

The Ardmore Development Authority is an excellent organization to work with, and made the project go a lot smoother. We know we made the right decision locating our plant here in Ardmore, Oklahoma.”

Tracy Malpass
Executive Vice President
EJIW – Ardmore Foundry
Dollar Tree

“From Day One, Wes Stucky was by our side and helped the team in Marietta, Love County (just south of Ardmore, Oklahoma), and the State. It is amazing what this individual can do! When Wes says he is going to do something, he makes sure it happens!

Why Oklahoma? The people we met with, the sincerity, the incentives, the Quality Jobs program are second to none! [Ardmore and Oklahoma] have much to be proud of from the standpoint of economic development and the people who run this state.”

Stephen White
Senior Vice President
Logistics, Dollar Tree
Dollar General
“If you are locating a new facility and want to deal with an up-front organization that is experienced, gets a first-rate job done in record time, handles everything, and provides for a smooth and easy project; the Ardmore Development Authority is the one to call.”

Cal Turner
Former Chairman of the Board
Dollar General Corporation

 

Dot Foods, Inc.

“We are extremely excited about selecting Ardmore, Oklahoma for our new distribution center. This decision represents an extensive one-year site search and an $11.7 million dollar investment. We feel Ardmore is a great fit for our company because of the local culture and values. The Ardmore Development Authority and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce have made us feel very welcomed in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

Jim Tracy
Senior Vice President
Dot Foods, Inc.
IMTEC Corporation

“It goes without saying that IMTEC was not an outside entity seeking assistance to relocate to Ardmore, Oklahoma. We’ve been here for a decade and plan to stay. It was extremely gratifying to directors of our organization that Wes Stucky worked with us in the same spirit of cooperation that we would have expected if we were being recruited from another location. That goes a long way in showing the true mission of the Ardmore Development Authority, and how it pursues the goal of not only attracting new business to Ardmore, Oklahoma but also to assist and retain established companies.”

Ronald A. Bulard, DDS
Owner
IMTEC Corporation
Slaughter Company Inc.

“When Slaughter came to Ardmore, Oklahoma 38 years ago, the Ardmore Development Authority was instrumental in getting us here and helped with the construction of our building. Today, they are still there for us to assist with any problem, but most importantly, they solve them as well.”

Fillmore Vaughn
General Manager
Slaughter Company Inc.

 

 

 

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New Projects and Expansions

Here are profiles of the latest economic development projects in the Ardmore, Oklahoma area.

OnLine Packaging

OnLine Packaging is currently constructing a 42,000 sq. ft. bleach manufacturing facility at the Ardmore Airpark. In addition to manufacturing household bleach, the company will also manufacture the plastic bottles the bleach is packaged in.

OnLine Packaging is a family owned business with its headquarters in Plover, Wisconsin. The company also has a plant in Indiana.

The new manufacturing facility will be located north of the Carbonyx plant at the Airpark. Construction began in the Spring, 2006 and should be completed by the end of the year. The company plans to begin production in the Spring, 2007. This plans will be a self-contained, highly automated state of the art facility.

OnLine will initially employ 17 people.
Amethyst Research, Inc.

Amethyst is a start-up company involved in developing advanced semiconductor process technology that will be used to manufacture next generation infrared (IR) "night vision" imagers. The company will employ five people by the end of 2006, including two Ph. D. level scientists.

Amethyst Research, Inc. is the second company to locate in the Ardmore Technology Transfer Center on the campus of Southern Oklahoma Technology Center.
IMTEC Imaging, L.L.C.

IMTEC Imaging, L.L.C. is the first company to locate in the new Ardmore Technology Transfer Center. This high technology company is a new venture of IMTEC Corporation and HYTEC Engineering, Inc., Los Alamos, New Mexico. The Company will allow dental and medical professionals access to high-quality imaging in the clinician's office. The company will employ 5 people and increast to15 employees within 90 days.

The Ardmore Technolgy Transfer Center is supported by the cooperative efforts of The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc., the Southern Oklahoma Technology Center and the Ardmore Development Authority. The potential for collaborations with the Noble Foundation serves as a major attraction to prospective companies. The Noble Foundation is devoted to research in the areas of agriculture, forage and plant biology. Their resources include expertise related to scientific research and the potential to license technology to incubator companies.
IMTEC Corporation
For more than a decade, IMTEC Corporation has designed and manufactured precision dental specialty products from its worldwide headquarters in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Pushing the growth of the company is the popularity of the sophisticated mini dental implant (MDI). At about 2 millimeters wide and 10 millimeters long, the titanium alloy screws are implanted into a patient’s gums where they serve as fasteners for dentures.

Two local dentists, Ron Bulard and E.S. Gillespie, founded the company that now employs 160. Construction has been recently completed on a 23,000 sq. ft. expansion.
Dollar General Corporation

With the help of the ADA, Dollar General Corporation completed its $23 million expansion to its Distribution Center at the Ardmore Airpark in 2005. This expansion has allowed Dollar General to increase its workforce from 600 to 750 at the Airpark Distribution Center.

The Distribution Center now serves 1,225 Dollar General Retail Stores. This is the third expansion of the Ardmore Distribution Center since its opening in 1994.

Dot Foods, Inc.

Dot Foods, Inc. began operations in February 2005 in their Ardmore Distribution Center. Dot Foods purchased the former Best Buy Product Return Center in New Horizons Industrial Park. An additional 60,000 square feet was added to the 121,000 square foot facility.

The company began production with 70 employees and plans to increase to 150 in the third year of operations. The Ardmore, Oklahoma facility represents a $12 million investment. Dot Foods serves more than 2,200 food distributors and manufacturers in the food service, retail, ingredient, convenience store and vending supply chains.

Dot Foods, a family-owned company headquartered in Mt. Sterling, IL, had sales of $1.55 billion in 2003 and employs over 2,000 people nationwide.
Best Buy Company

Best Buy opened its new 750,000 sq. ft. facility in May, 2004 located in Westport Industrial Park. The building slab is 1,000,000 sq. ft. to allow for future expansion.

The new facility replaces their previous 450,000 sq. ft. distribution center. The Ardmore, Oklahoma facility employs 195. The new facility is one of seven large distribution centers within the company.

Carbonyx Carbon Technologies

Carbonyx Carbon Technologies is a high-technology material science company engaged in the development and production of premium carbon and carbon alloy products. This is a start-up company using innovative proprietary technologies and customized production approaches to manufacture and market carbon alloy products.

The first project of the company was to develop a Cokonyx™ facility to demonstrate the feasibility of the engineering, production, operations, emissions and the economics of the process. The 20,000 square foot building was completed in 2002. A full scale production facility was completed in 2004 and production began in April 2005. The building is approximately 80,000 sq. ft. and will employ over 30 employees by 2006.

Michelin North America
Michelin North America increased its investment in the company’s Ardmore, Oklahoma tire manufacturing plant with an additional $144 million to increase the plant’s capacity for producing larger tires.

“With the completion of this major investment, we are confident the Ardmore plant will become the most important plant in the Michelin family, said Governor Brad Henry. “Ardmore and Oklahoma competed for this investment with a number of Michelin plants worldwide. Ardmore is, once again, the winner in the competition for capital investment.”

Ardmore Plant Manager Dave Brenner said the decision to improve the plant follows the previously announced decision to invest $56 million at the facility and brings its total pending investment to $200 million.

“We knew we were competing for investment dollars against locations all over the world. Because of the work of the entire Ardmore, Oklahoma plant, the work of Wes Stucky and the leadership of our elected officials, we are announcing that instead of $56 million, our investment will be much more.”

Wes Stucky, president of the Ardmore Development Authority (ADA) said that Ardmore’s economy continues to grow despite the national slowdown. “This project is an example of what happens when the community supports a company and the company and the ADA have a true partnership. In terms of major investments, 2003 set a record for our community.”

The ADA has completed construction of the 75,000 square foot expansion that will be leased to Michelin.  The plant currently covers an area of 1,500,000 square feet and employs 1900. The plant manufactures radial passenger and light truck tires for the original equipment as well as replacement markets.

 

Best Buy Distribution Completes Facility
Construction is completed on a new 741,000 sq. ft. Best Buy distribution facility in Westport North Industrial Park. Many retailers now recognize Ardmore, Oklahoma as a key logistics hub in the South Central United States.

 

Recent Projects

More and more companies are discovering the strength, vitality, and strategic location of Ardmore, Oklahoma. Here are some recent stories of new and expanding industry in the area.

EJIW (East Jordan Iron Works)

East Jordan Iron Works-Ardmore Foundry, Inc. is a well-established manufacturer of iron castings with headquarters in East Jordan, MI. It is a family owned company, which has been in the foundry business for over 100 years. Currently in the fourth generation of family ownership, the company built the foundry in Ardmore, Oklahoma to better service its customers in the western and southern parts of the United States.

The Ardmore Foundry began production in October 2001. The foundry began operating a second shift in 2003. The foundry currently employs approximately 235 people.

Dollar Tree

A unique partnership between the Ardmore Development Authority and the Love County Industrial Foundation, along with assistance by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, enabled Dollar Tree Stores to locate a 600,000 square foot distribution center off of I-35 in Marietta, Oklahoma.

This impressive facility took approximately ten months to construct under the direction of the Ardmore Development Authority which purchased the land, instigated the relocation of a major transmission line, oversaw zoning and permitting requirements, assisted in the design and construction of an industrial access road, facilitated grant opportunities, dealt directly with all contractors and sub-contractors and issued payments on the entire $35 million project. With the ADA’s innovative approach, southern Oklahoma gained a new industry and over 100 new jobs.

Hugh Buford, facility manager, said, “We absolutely love Oklahoma and the labor pool has been exceptional thus far, it’s been a great place to do business.”
King Aerospace
Jerry-King Echevarria formed King Aerospace Inc. in 1992 to support the United States Air Force on the E-9A Fleet of aircraft. King Aerospace provides engineering services, airframe and engine maintenance, inspection support and avionics maintenance and modifications on the highly sophisticated telemetry fleet of aircraft. The firm also provides comprehensive logistic services, mission equipment operators, and certified training support.

King Aerospace’s purpose is to provide reliable, top quality, cost effective aviation services on schedule, maintaining satisfied clients and employees while earning a fair profit.

King Aerospace was awarded the Small Business Administration’s prestigious National Small Business Prime Contractor of the year for the firm’s performance on the E-9A program.

The Ardmore Development Authority supported the refurbishing of the 100,000 square foot hangar as King Aerospace anticipated increased workload to cause the need for another large hangar facility.
Higgins Interiors
The Ardmore Development Authority completed the reconstruction of a 26,000 square foot state-of-the-art paint and aircraft repair facility for Higgins Interiors at the Ardmore Industrial Airpark in 2003.

The facility suffered severe damage from a 1999 tornado. Faced with the potential loss of an existing business, the ADA undertook a total rebuilding of Hangar 101 to accommodate Higgins Interiors and save jobs for Ardmore. The former World War II vintage "round top" hangar was totally renovated with a new roof, siding, interior, HVAC and electrical systems.

Higgins Interiors employs 30 mechanics, aircraft painters and interior refurbishers at the facility. The company provides painting and interior services for corporate jets.

Higgins Interiors is now operating in the new facility, which impresses their customers and rivals the best and most modern hangars in the country.
Rush Peterbilt Truck Center – Ardmore
Rush Trucking recently expanded its operation to a 30,000 square foot facility leased from the Ardmore Development Authority and located in the New Horizons Industrial Park. The trucking operation provides a full line of parts and services for Peterbilt trucks as well as other large over-the-road vehicles. With anticipated monthly sales of $250,000, this expansion will mean additional sales tax revenue for the city.

Lynn Eggenberg, local manager, commented on the benefits of the new Ardmore, Oklahoma location, “Due to the Ardmore Development Authority’s recruitment of industries who utilize trucking, it made sense that our company locate close to a growing clientele.”
Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
Developing better agricultural understanding, procedures and technology not only aids farmers and ranchers, it benefits mankind. For at its heart, agriculture makes up our food supply, the very source of life.

This knowledge is understood and respected at the Ardmore-based Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation whose mission is to improve understanding and practices in the world of agriculture.

Founded in 1945 by oilman Lloyd Noble, the organization has since grown to include more than 250 employees and an endowment of nearly $1 billion. The foundation operates primarily from earnings on its investment portfolio and ranks among the 60 largest private, charitable foundations in the United States.

The Noble Foundation is currently in the midst of an $85 million expansion, primarily to its laboratory and greenhouse facilities. Central to the expansion … is an independent power generating facility to eliminate the threat of a power interruption that could destroy millions of dollars worth of research.

“The expansion was precipitated by the quality of the work being accomplished by our staff,” said President Mike Cawley. “The Foundation’s board of trustees believed their work was worthy of this significant investment.”

 

Forging ahead
A commemorative manhole cover – one of the products made at the EJIW–Ardmore Foundry – is displayed at the July 2000 groundbreaking of the iron works facility at the Ardmore Industrial Airpark.

 

Awards for Economic Development

Over the years, the Ardmore Development Authority has been repeatedly recognized for excellence in economic development.

  • Top Economic Development Program for cities under 50,000
    International Economic Development Council
    2002
  • Nation’s Top Ten Developers
    Site Selection magazine
    1999
  • Best Regional Economic Development Organization
    in the United States
    Business Facilities magazine
    1998
  • Winner of the Arthur D. Little Award
    for Overall Economic Development
    1995
  • Nation’s Top Ten Developers
    Site Selection magazine
    1994

 

Award from IEDC
Wes Stucky, president of the Ardmore Development Authority, accepts the 2002 award from the International Economic Development Council recognizing Ardmore, Oklahoma as a Top Economic Development Program in the nation.

 

Growth Indicators

Growth in Ardmore, Oklahoma can be seen when reviewing the building permits issued in the city within the past 6 years. Ardmore infrastructure is growing to meet new demand by residents and businesses alike.

Building permits in past 6 years
Year Number of permits Construction value
2007 70 $3,400,000
2006 101 $4,200,000
2005 86 $20,000,000
2004 65 $3,700,000
2003 65 $6,600,000
2002 46 $3,400,000
 
 

Source: City of Ardmore, Oklahoma through February 2007 updated March, 2007

Meters in past 6 years
Water Residential Commercial
2005 39 37
2004 43 18
2003   82
2002   71
2001   55
2000   80
Natural gas    
2005 44 15
2004   124
2003   51
2002   51
2001   63
2000   45
Electric Residential Commercial
2005 143 65
2004 73 67
2003 164 105
2002 70 59
2001 70 43
2000 77 66
     
 

Sources: City of Ardmore, Oklahoma, OG&E, ONG, updated June, 2006

 

Growth in Ardmore, Oklahoma
Despite a lackluster national economy, Ardmore continues to grow as reflected by the number of building permits issued over the past 6 years. (2005 reflects the portion of the year shown on chart.)

 

New Industry and Major Expansions

From 2000 to 2006, new and existing companies in the Ardmore, Oklahoma area have spent over $576.5 million in capital investments, resulting in over 1,331 new jobs.

New industry and major expansions, from 2000 to 2006
Company Type Year New jobs Investment
OnLine Packaging New 2006 17 $2 million
Amethyst Research, Inc. New 2006 5 --
IMTEC Corporation Expansion 2006 80 $2.7 million
IMTEC Imaging New 2005 12 --
Dollar General Corp (Distribution Center) Expansion 2005 40 $23.5 million
Carbonyx Expansion 2004 24 $13.5 million
The Noble Foundation Expansion 2004 40 --
Dot Foods, Inc. New 2004 60 $11.7 million
Best Buy (Distribution Center) Expansion 2004 -- $43 million
EJIW Ardmore Foundry Expansion 2003 80 --
IMTEC Corporation Expansion 2003 25 --
Michelin North America Expansion 2003 45 $200 million
The Noble Foundation Expansion 2003 100 $100 million
Higgins Interiors New 2003 30 $1.5 million
Dollar Tree Stores (Distribution Center) New  2002 125 $35 million
Carbonyx New 2002 8 $25 million
Michelin North America Expansion 2002 -- $10 million
Bake Line Group Expansion 2002 65 $1.5 million
EJIW Ardmore Foundry New 2001 100 $50 million
Circuit City (Distribution Center) Expansion 2001 25 $8 million
Dollar General Corp (Distribution Center) Expansion 2001 100 $7 million
IMTEC Corporation New 2001 25 $2 million
1-800 Flowers.com (Call Center) New 2001 200 $100,000
Michelin North America Expansion 2000 25 $30 million
Best Buy (Distribution Center) Expansion 2000 50 $7 million
Southwest Silicon Technologies New 2000 25 $3 million
         

Source: Reports from individual companies, updated June, 2006

New jobs and growth, from 2000 to 2006
Year New jobs
2006 102
2005 52
2004 124
2003 280
2002 198
2001 475
2000 100
Total new jobs in past 7 years 1,331
 

Source: Reports from individual companies, updated June, 2006

 

Ardmore, Oklahoma highs and Lowe’s
Construction crews erect the walls of the new Lowe’s Home Improvement Center in Ardmore. New retail offers another measure of commercial growth in the Ardmore area.

 

Business Incubator
 
New Biotechnology Incubator fosters Research & Development
In 2005, The Ardmore Development Authority, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation and the Southern Oklahoma Technology Center (SOTC) formed a partnership to create a business incubator facility, the Ardmore Technology Transfer Center, to recruit and retain technology oriented companies to Ardmore, Oklahoma. Business incubators are facilities designed to accelerate the development and success of start-up and existing businesses.

The advantages to a tenant locating in the incubator include more affordable lease space and access to an array of on-site managerial, administrative and financial services that assist the companies in overcoming challenges faced in the market place. In addition, tenants are exempt from state tax liability on income earned on activities conducted at the incubator for up to ten years. The exemption is valid after the company moves out of the incubator.

The ADA, with the help of the Noble Foundation, has established Ardmore, Oklahoma as part of the Oklahoma Biotechnology Corridor which includes Stillwater, the Greater Oklahoma City Area and Ardmore. The potential for professional collaborations with the Noble Foundation also serves as an attraction to prospective companies.

The Technology Transfer Center has received accreditation from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and two companies, IMTEC Imaging LLC and Amethyst Research, Inc., are currently located in the incubator. The long-term objective of this project is to create a technology park in Ardmore, Oklahoma focused on commercial ventures based on scientific research.

 

 
The Ardmore Technology Transfer Center was created in 2005 to attract start-up and existing technology based businesses to Ardmore. It is currently the business location for IMTEC Imaging LLC and Amethyst Research, Inc.

 

Hickory Ridge Housing Addition

The Ardmore Development Authority (ADA) has filed a preliminary plat for the Hickory Ridge Subdivision.  The site lies along the east side of Kings Road approximately 3000 feet north of West Broadway (US 70).  The plat depicts 175 lots for single family residential development.

Through the Ardmore Chamber of Commerce and ADA, a housing committee was formed to develop the housing addition covenants and the procedure for soliciting builders and developers.  The type of home that is defined in the covenants is for new construction, 75% brick, 3 bedrooms, 1 ¾ bathrooms, with an attached two car garage in the 1200 sq. ft. to 1600 sq. ft. range.

The ADA will make the improvements to the infrastructure including constructing the roadways, bringing the utilities to the area and completing the dirt work on the land.  The lots will be allocated in groups of 2 to 10 to builders that follow the covenants and price range of the addition.  The cost of the lots has an average price of $10,000 for a 70 ft. by 130 ft. lot.  In exchange for the opportunity to buy lots at this price, the builders will agree to build homes at a sales price of $75 per sq. ft.

Builders interested in purchasing lots in Hickory Ridge need to supply the ADA with the following information:

  • Resume with references for at least five homes they have constructed.

  • Number of lots desired.

  • Proof of Workers’ Compensation and General Liability Insurance Verification.

  • A letter from a financial institution approving a line of credit for the builder sufficient to complete the project.

There will 34 lots planned for development for the first stage of the Hickory Ridge Addition.  The time frame for the first stage is as follows:

Submit Final Plat to the City September 5, 2006
Advertise for Bids for Water and Sewer September 15, 2006
Begin Site Grading November 1, 2006
Begin Residential Construction January 1, 2007

Please submit the information to Brien Thorstenberg at the Ardmore Development Authority by 5:00 p.m., October 1, 2006.  For more information, you may call the Chamber at (580) 223-7765. 


The Ardmore Development Authority commissioned CDS Market Research to conduct an Ardmore Housing Study. In January, 2005 their summary findings noted a significant need for single-family housing priced between $85,000 and $110,000. The ADA answered this challenge by platting lots on ADA owned property which will be developed by contractors meeting these specifications. Hickory Ridge Housing Addition will offer 3 bedroom homes, 1 ¾ baths and two car garage in the 1,200 sq. ft. to 1,600 sq. ft. range.