Why Oklahoma City is betting big on defense industry

At the annual State of the Region, professionals from the transit, transportation, military and defense sectors gathered to discuss the trajectory of central Oklahoma's growth and what is needed to sustainably maintain it, while specifically highlighting the region's role in the national defense industry as key.

Hosted on Sept. 1 at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber presented a path forward for exhibiting the region as its thrust into a global spotlight during the 2028 Olympics, while prioritizing planning for prosperous life after.

While a large emphasis was placed on expanding public transit and accessibility between other regional hubs such as San Antonio and Kansas City, at the core of conversation was Oklahoma's largest single-site employer  ― Tinker Air Force Base.

Business professionals indicated that regional competitiveness will come from protecting the key assets that make Oklahoma unique, specifically pointing to the aerospace and defense industries as ripe for opportunity.

Read the full story on the Oklahoman.com.