TONIGHT. WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO KEEP HIGH INCOME FAMILIES IN NORMAN? ECONOMIC EXPERTS SAY A NEW ENTERTAINMENT VENUE COULD CERTAINLY HELP, RIGHT? THAT’S BEEN A TALKER. KOCO MEGHAN MOSLEY JOINS US LIVE WITH MORE ON THIS. MEGAN, I KNOW YOU SPOKE TO THOSE EXPERTS. WE DROPPED FROM ABOUT 5300 HIGH INCOME FAMILIES TO 3600. THE CLEVELAND COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COALITION IS SOUNDING THE ALARM, POINTING TO A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN HIGH INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN NORMAN BETWEEN 2023 AND 2024. FOR MOST, WHAT JUMPS OUT IS WE’RE THE FOURTH WORST IN THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF OUR DROP. THAT’S ACCORDING TO THE LATEST U.S. CENSUS DATA. NOW, COUNTY LEADERS SAY A NEW BILLION DOLLAR ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT COULD HELP TURN THINGS AROUND. CITIES IN OKLAHOMA ARE VERY INTERESTED IN RETAIL SALES, RIGHT. SO WE ATTRACT A LOT OF RETAILERS. WILL RETAIL JOBS DON’T PAY AS WELL AS WEALTH PRODUCING JOBS, PRIMARY JOBS. AND SO WE’RE FOCUSED ON PRIMARY JOBS. AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY WITH THE NEW ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT THE STATE. SUPREME COURT GAVE THE GREEN LIGHT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE ROCK CREEK ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. AFTER A YEARS LONG BATTLE. THE COUNTY SAYS IT WILL BRING IN MORE JOBS AND HOPEFULLY MORE FAMILIES STAYING. THERE’S ABOUT 1800 JOBS THAT COME WITH THIS, INCLUDING SOME CONSTRUCTION JOBS, BUT WHAT IT DOES IS IT ATTRACTS TALENT AND WE’RE FOCUSED ON WORKFORCE TALENT. THAT 25 TO 44 YE
Norman aims to retain high-income families with new entertainment district
Economic experts in Norman believe a billion-dollar entertainment district could help reverse the decline in high-income families, as the city faces a significant drop in such households
Norman city leaders are proposing a billion-dollar entertainment district to address the decline in high-income families, as recent U.S. Census data shows a significant drop in such households. >> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning NewsletterLawrence McKinney, CEO of the Cleveland County Economic Development Coalition, highlighted the decrease from about 5,300 high-income families to 3,600 between 2020 and 2024.”We dropped from about 5,300 high-income families to 3,600,” McKinney said. “What jumps out is that we’re the fourth worst in the country in terms of our drop.”County leaders believe the new entertainment district could help reverse this trend by attracting higher-paying jobs. McKinney explained that while Oklahoma cities are interested in retail sales, retail jobs do not pay as well as wealth-producing primary jobs. The new district is seen as an opportunity to bring in higher-paying jobs.”Cities in Oklahoma are very interested in retail sales, so we attract a lot of retailers. But retail jobs don’t pay as well as wealth-producing jobs, primary jobs, and we’re focused on primary jobs, and this is an opportunity with the new entertainment district to bring higher-paying jobs in,” McKinney said.The State Supreme Court has approved the construction of the Rock Creek Entertainment District after a lengthy legal battle. The county anticipates that the district will create approximately 1,800 jobs, including construction jobs, and attract workforce talent, particularly in the 25-44 age group.”There’s about 1,800 jobs that come with this, including some construction jobs. But what it does is attract talent. And we’re focused on workforce talent, that 25-44 year old age group, and if there’s nothing to do in the community, they don’t stay here,” McKinney said.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.The Rock Creek Entertainment District is expected to be completed by 2029.Top HeadlinesDriver arrested, 2 taken to hospital after wrong-way crash on I-35 in Oklahoma CityWhat happens when immigrant children are taken into federal custody?Businessowner says Oklahoma’s medical marijuana industry can be fixed instead of abolishedMiddle school student riding bicycle taken to hospital after being hit by driver in Midwest CityOklahoma governor calls for end of high school sports association
Norman city leaders are proposing a billion-dollar entertainment district to address the decline in high-income families, as recent U.S. Census data shows a significant drop in such households.
>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning Newsletter
Lawrence McKinney, CEO of the Cleveland County Economic Development Coalition, highlighted the decrease from about 5,300 high-income families to 3,600 between 2020 and 2024.
“We dropped from about 5,300 high-income families to 3,600,” McKinney said. “What jumps out is that we’re the fourth worst in the country in terms of our drop.”
County leaders believe the new entertainment district could help reverse this trend by attracting higher-paying jobs.
McKinney explained that while Oklahoma cities are interested in retail sales, retail jobs do not pay as well as wealth-producing primary jobs. The new district is seen as an opportunity to bring in higher-paying jobs.
“Cities in Oklahoma are very interested in retail sales, so we attract a lot of retailers. But retail jobs don’t pay as well as wealth-producing jobs, primary jobs, and we’re focused on primary jobs, and this is an opportunity with the new entertainment district to bring higher-paying jobs in,” McKinney said.
The State Supreme Court has approved the construction of the Rock Creek Entertainment District after a lengthy legal battle.
The county anticipates that the district will create approximately 1,800 jobs, including construction jobs, and attract workforce talent, particularly in the 25-44 age group.
“There’s about 1,800 jobs that come with this, including some construction jobs. But what it does is attract talent. And we’re focused on workforce talent, that 25-44 year old age group, and if there’s nothing to do in the community, they don’t stay here,” McKinney said.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
The Rock Creek Entertainment District is expected to be completed by 2029.
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