Business Strategy: Oklahoma City honored among 50 Best Places to Live

Listen to this article

Oklahoma City was recognized by Money as one of the 50 Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2024 due to its ongoing redevelopment initiatives, and diverse population. The Alliance for Economic Development is proud to have played a role in some projects that have enhanced our city and driven its reputation as a wonderful place to live.

Significant developments aided by the Alliance include Scissortail Park, the Omni Oklahoma City Hotel, and the Oklahoma City Convention Center, among others. Our role has been to enhance economic strategies, develop incentives, and facilitate land use.

Scissortail Park, a major accomplishment of the Alliance and MAPS, created a more cohesive downtown by connecting downtown to the Oklahoma River. It acts as the city’s urban oasis, and fosters culture among the residents by hosting events for all ages, including concerts and family activities.

Other significant projects that helped elevate Oklahoma City include the Oklahoma Convention Center and the 605-room Omni Oklahoma City Hotel, which opened in early 2021. The Omni has significantly boosted the local economy by attracting tourists and enhancing the hospitality, entertainment, and hotel industries, and the adjoining Oklahoma Convention Center has enhanced the Omni’s occupancy. The strategy behind developing these attractions in tandem follows the example of other cities where similar projects have increased hotel expenses by as much as 30%.

OKC can anticipate further growth soon. The Fairgrounds Coliseum, which broke ground in February 2023, is another much awaited initiative and one of the MAPS 4 projects. The current arena and fairgrounds attract visitors from across the state and the world. The new Coliseum will host events like bull riding and concerts, with an overall capacity of 7,500 people. According to an economic study, the new coliseum will add 370 jobs and have an annual economic impact of $408 million.

The Alliance is honored to work with outstanding partners in support of Oklahoma City’s vibrant growth, and the recent designation as a top 50 place to live in the U.S. is a testament to our success so far. Our aim is to create an atmosphere that draws both locals and tourists to the city, making it a desirable place to live and work.

Kenton Tsoodle is the Executive Director of the Alliance for Economic Development of OKC.