Source: City of Broken Arrow
Advanced combustion equipment, heat exchangers, flight simulators, and medical-grade glass are some of the things produced by the 300 manufacturing plants around Broken Arrow.
Manufacturers provide 5,490 jobs and $771.1 million to the Broken Arrow economy.
In honor of the manufacturing sector’s significant contribution to the city, the state, and the world, Mayor Debra Wimpee and the City Council have declared October as Manufacturing Month.
“We are the third in manufacturing for the state, and that’s very impressive,” Wimpee said.
Oklahoma City and Tulsa are number one and number two, respectively.
The Mayor’s Proclamation recognizes area manufacturers for their clean, well-lit, and climate-controlled environments.
It also says, “They provide competitive benefits to every employee, including healthcare and retirement plans, and make manufacturing a worthwhile career choice for all residents.”
The city has a long history of manufacturing. According to the Broken Arrow Economic Development Corporation, it has a workforce that is both entrepreneurial and technically skilled.
“Manufacturing businesses play an indispensable role in sustaining our city’s economic vitality,” said Jennifer Conway, CEO and President of the Broken Arrow Economic Development Corporation and the Broken Arrow Chamber. “Beyond providing employment opportunities, they serve as pillars of innovation and growth, making substantial contributions to the overall prosperity of Broken Arrow.”
According to statistics provided by the BAEDC, collective wages in manufacturing total $375 million, which is 85 percent above the U.S. average. The average salary for Broken Arrow’s manufacturing employees is $62,000 annually.
According to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, more than 4,200 manufacturing firms operate in the state and employ 138,000 Oklahomans.
In 2022, more than 10 percent of Oklahoma’s total private employment comprises manufacturing jobs, totaling more than $19 billion in total annual output from manufacturing. The state has seen a 46 percent increase in manufacturing exports from Oklahoma since 2,000.
Nationally, U.S. manufacturing contributes $2.65 trillion to the U.S. economy, employs 13 million Americans, and accounts for 10.3 percent of the nation’s GDP, according to the International Trade Administration.
In 2022, U.S. manufactured goods exports totaled nearly $1.6 trillion, 77 percent of all U.S. merchandise exports—about 96 percent of manufacturers that export are small and medium-sized businesses.
The City of Broken Arrow supports and joins in this national and state effort to help manufacturers do what they do best—grow their businesses, create jobs, and ensure that our communities remain as vibrant tomorrow as they are today.
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