Oklahoma City has recently advanced two significant development projects through targeted economic incentives, signaling a strategic push for job creation and regional economic expansion. The City Council approved financial packages to attract both Scheels, a large-scale sporting goods retailer, and Hapco Pole Products, a manufacturing company, to establish new operations in the area.
As part of the agreement, Scheels will receive an $8 million performance-based incentive to support the construction of a $100 million superstore in northwest Oklahoma City. The 300,000-square-foot facility is projected to generate more than 200 full-time and over 300 part-time jobs, contributing an estimated $15 to $16 million annually in wages. Beyond traditional retail offerings, the store will feature specialized services such as golf club fittings, bicycle maintenance, and expert guidance on athletic footwear.
Designed as a destination shopping experience, the Scheels location will include unique attractions like a Ferris wheel, a candy shop, a 16,000-gallon saltwater aquarium housing over 600 fish, interactive arcade games, and an on-site restaurant. Officials anticipate the site will draw over 2.5 million visitors each year from within a 250-mile radius. More than half of the store’s revenue is expected to come from customers outside city limits, potentially boosting nearby businesses through increased foot traffic.
In parallel, Hapco Pole Products plans to invest $50 million in constructing a new manufacturing plant at the OKC 577 industrial park near Interstate-240 and S Bryant Avenue. The project is set to create 81 new positions over five years, supported by a $175,000 job-creation incentive from the city. This facility will enhance local industrial capacity and contribute to long-term economic diversification.
The Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City played a key role in facilitating these deals, helping companies navigate incentive programs and align with municipal growth goals. These developments reflect a broader strategy to leverage public-private partnerships for sustainable urban development.
— news from The Journal Record
— News Original —
Business Strategy: Economic incentives drive major developments
This month, Oklahoma City has announced two major developments new to OKC, both of which were made possible by strategic economic incentives. The Oklahoma City Council approved incentive packages for both Scheels, a new sporting goods superstore, and a new Hapco Pole Products manufacturing facility. While these developments may not appear to have much in common, they share an important thread of economic opportunity. n nLast week, the Oklahoma City Council approved an $8 million pay-for-performance incentive to help bring a $100 million Scheels store to northwest Oklahoma City. The new superstore is expected to provide more than 200 full-time jobs as well as over 300 part-time positions, with an estimated annual payroll of between $15 and $16 million. n nThis new retailer will offer more than just your typical sporting goods store inventory. Inside the superstore, Scheels will have specialty shops, staffed by experts, to help walk shoppers through finding the best product to fit their needs, including anything from golf club fittings to bicycle mechanics to running shoe experts. n nThe 300,000 square-foot store is projected to attract over 2.5 million visitors a year from within a 250-mile radius. Scheels is designing its Oklahoma City location to function as a destination shopping experience, with signature attractions like a Ferris wheel, candy shop, and a 16,000-gallon saltwater aquarium filled with over 600 fish. There will also be interactive arcade games and a restaurant for shoppers needing a mid-afternoon break while exploring all of the superstore’s amenities. It is expected that more than half of its sales will come from outside the city limits, drawing visiting shoppers to Oklahoma City to become patrons at additional retailers and surrounding restaurants. n nOur other new development, a Hapco Pole Products manufacturing facility, is also expected to provide major economic growth for the city. Hapco intends to build a new plant in Oklahoma City’s OKC 577 industrial business park at Interstate-240 and S Bryant Avenue and will invest $50 million in building and equipping the facility. The City Council also approved a $175,000 job-creation economic development incentive for the site, which projects to create 81 new jobs over five years. n nAt the Alliance for Economic Development, our dedicated staff is committed to helping businesses, like Scheels and Hapco, connect with the right economic incentives and programs throughout the city, so that we can continue to see ample economic growth in OKC.