A community member recently asked a great question after reading about a new Amazon delivery facility planned for Broken Arrow: “𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝑶𝒌𝒎𝒖𝒍𝒈𝒆𝒆?” It’s a fair question, and it’s also a good example of how different types of companies choose locations. Of course, we would have welcomed the opportunity to be considered for a project like that. However, the process of industrial economic development has its own set of nuances and rules. Facilities like Amazon deli

This article was written by Patrick Ford and included in the 2026 Focus Magazine published by Okmulgee Times.

When most people hear “economic development,” they picture a giant factory rolling into town with hundreds of jobs. And yes—recruiting...