AGP Executive Report

Data Centers & Energy: Oklahoma data centers are drawing fresh scrutiny over air pollution and water use, while residents also face concerns about their effect on power bills. Agriculture: Heavy rain across western and central Oklahoma raised flooding concerns for ranchers; improved moisture is also reshaping cattle-herd expansion plans and fall grazing prospects. Industrial Growth: Steelmaker Webco selected Port Muskogee for an expansion, and Tulsa Innovation Labs is promoting the region’s advanced manufacturing, aerospace and energy sectors to global leaders. Infrastructure: Oklahoma is advancing a $7.75 million spaceport operations center, while Will Rogers Airport has unveiled a plan to handle up to 20 million passengers. Workforce: State lawmakers are studying a childcare cost-sharing model for employers, parents and the state, as business leaders say care shortages are contributing to missed production deadlines.

Manufacturing: Broken Arrow-based Paragon Films, which makes stretch and shrink packaging, is set to be acquired by Atlantic Ridge Capital and Grafine Partners in a deal valued at about $900 million. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter. Industrial Expansion: Steel manufacturer Webco has selected Port Muskogee for an expansion, adding to signs of continued investment in Oklahoma manufacturing. Energy and Data Centers: An OU researcher warns that rising data-center demand could increase coal emissions and strain the state’s power and water resources, while an Oklahoma survey finds many older residents concerned about data centers and utility costs. Agriculture: The Farm Bureau is cautioning farmers that deductions tied to fertilizer nutrients already in purchased land may draw IRS challenges, potentially bringing back taxes, penalties and legal costs. Grow Cleanup: Oklahoma lawmakers are examining how to clean up abandoned marijuana farms as the industry contracts; the state had 1,703 active grower licenses, down from a 2021 peak of 9,402. Infrastructure: Will Rogers International Airport has unveiled an expansion plan designed to handle 20 million passengers, while Guthrie approved more than $2.3 million in grants for its regional airport and public-safety departments.

Energy Costs: Oklahoma Sen. Alan Armstrong joined bipartisan senators urging President Trump to reverse a Russian diesel deal, arguing it could violate a 2022 law and do little to lower fuel prices. Tulsa Tourism: City leaders are backing a proposal to raise the hotel tax from 5% to 9.9% to upgrade venues and compete for conventions and major events. Transportation: Will Rogers International Airport’s expansion plans include a $90 million parking garage and, eventually, more gates; construction on a nearby roundabout is expected to start soon. Construction and Manufacturing: Work has begun on elevated decks at downtown Oklahoma City’s Continental Coliseum, while steelmaker Webco selected Port Muskogee for an expansion. Agriculture: Drought is forcing cattle producers to weigh further herd cuts, despite recent rain in some areas.

Oklahoma Manufacturing: Broken Arrow stretch-film maker Paragon Films is set to be acquired for about $900 million, in a deal expected to close in the fourth quarter. Greenheck Group also plans a major Oklahoma expansion. Energy and Data Centers: OG&E is seeking a rate increase as Oklahoma’s data-center buildout draws scrutiny over utility costs; a Tulsa County commissioner wants outside technical help evaluating project claims. Agriculture: Oklahoma’s 2026 cotton production forecast has fallen 71%, adding pressure on growers already facing higher harvest costs. Business Services: Restaurant Electrical Authority has launched an emergency-readiness program with onsite service in Oklahoma and three neighboring states. Food Production: Oklahoma’s first dedicated gluten-free stone mill is turning sorghum into flour, adding a new local outlet for the crop.

Data Center Growth: Oklahoma has 64 data center projects: 34 operating, six under construction and 20 planned. Electricity costs and calls for outside scrutiny are adding pressure as the projects become an election issue. Business Deals: Oklahoma City-based INSURICA acquired WorkCompOne, adding digital workers’ compensation services for small businesses. Manufacturing: State officials sent warning letters over permitting for the proposed Inola aluminum smelter. Greenheck announced a major Oklahoma expansion, while Webco Industries is expanding in Muskogee. Energy & Agriculture: Oil theft is rising in the shale region, while Oklahoma cotton production is forecast to fall 71% in 2026 and higher harvest costs are squeezing row-crop farmers. Infrastructure: Highway work is bringing lane closures and delays across Oklahoma City, with I-44 bridge construction expected to continue into spring 2027.

Energy & Utilities: AARP found 92% of surveyed older Oklahomans want data centers to pay their own utility costs. The debate comes as PSO customers face an $11 interim monthly rate increase. Attorney General Gentner Drummond also warned proposed air-rule changes could ease the way for a controversial aluminum smelter planned near Inola. Advanced Manufacturing: Tulsa-based Ten-Nine Technologies is partnering with South Korea’s MIN N JUNE Chemical to test its battery additive with manufacturers. Agriculture: Oklahoma’s 2026 cotton production forecast has fallen 71%; cattle groups are also urging ranchers to document business activity amid IRS hobby-loss rules. Workforce: Skilled-trade shortages are delaying construction projects nationwide, with data center demand and an aging workforce adding pressure.

Energy Security: Oil theft is escalating across the Permian, where nearly half of surveyed firms focused on the basin said operations had been affected. Higher crude prices are drawing increasingly organized thieves to the region’s wells and infrastructure. Utilities & Data Centers: Oklahoma gubernatorial candidates are debating data-center costs and oversight as Tulsa County officials seek outside help assessing project promises. OG&E is also seeking a rate increase, sharpening concerns about power costs. Water Infrastructure: Latimer County Rural Water District No. 4 is moving toward a replacement treatment plant, with USDA grant funding and an engineering loan supporting the project. Agrifood: A Braman farm has opened Oklahoma’s first stone-milling and packaging operation dedicated to gluten-free grains, turning locally grown sorghum into flour. Industrial Growth: Greenheck Group plans a major Oklahoma expansion, while the state’s aerospace and defense industry is credited with a $52.5 billion economic impact. Farm Outlook: Oklahoma’s 2026 cotton production forecast has fallen 71%, a steep setback for growers.

Food Manufacturing: Oklahoma’s first dedicated gluten-free stone mill is turning locally grown sorghum into flour, creating a new market for a state crop. Utilities: OG&E is seeking a $395 million rate increase that could add about $23.88 a month to the average residential bill; the filing excludes data-center demand, which is addressed in a separate proposal. Industrial Expansion: Greenheck Group plans a major Oklahoma expansion, while Webco Industries is moving ahead with a multimillion-dollar expansion at Port Muskogee. Agriculture: Oklahoma’s 2026 cotton production forecast has fallen 71%, a sharp setback for growers and the businesses tied to the crop. Data Centers: Tulsa County officials are seeking outside technical help to assess data-center proposals as Oklahoma weighs the projects’ energy and infrastructure demands.

Utility Costs: OG&E has asked regulators to approve a rate increase averaging $23.88 a month for residential customers. The company says the filing excludes data-center demand, which is covered by a separate large-load tariff proposal. Data Center Oversight: Oklahoma candidates are debating data-center growth, while a Tulsa County commissioner wants outside technical help reviewing project promises and power costs. Industrial Expansion: Webco Industries is expanding at Port Muskogee, and Greenheck Group plans a major Oklahoma expansion. State officials have also warned the Inola aluminum smelter project over permitting issues as local opposition continues. Agriculture: Oklahoma’s 2026 cotton production forecast has fallen 71%. Aerospace and Defense: The sector generates an estimated $52.5 billion in annual economic activity and supports 250,000 jobs statewide.

Utilities: Verdigris Valley Electric Cooperative, serving more than 35,000 meters in five northeastern Oklahoma counties, says personal follow-ups after outages are central to its customer service. Business Growth: Tidal Wave Auto Spa opened a Claremore location, its sixth in Oklahoma; Greenheck Group also plans a major state expansion, while Webco Industries is expanding in Port Muskogee. Data Centers: Oklahoma officials are pressing developers for clearer answers on water, power and neighborhood impacts. A Tulsa County commissioner proposed independent technical help for local governments, as gubernatorial candidates diverge on incentives and a possible development pause. Industrial Permitting: State officials are challenging proposed rules for the Inola aluminum smelter, with questions also raised about the project’s projected economic impact. Aerospace and Infrastructure: A new study puts Oklahoma’s aerospace and defense impact at $52.5 billion annually and 250,000 jobs; the state also unveiled an eight-year, $7.3 billion highway and bridge plan. Food Manufacturing: Oklahoma’s first dedicated gluten-free stone mill is turning sorghum into flour, adding value to a local crop.

Data Centers: Oklahoma’s gubernatorial candidates are sparring over data center growth, with concerns over power costs and calls for tighter oversight. An Oklahoma City campus is investing in off-grid power. State Finances: Tax revenue rose 7.1% to $18.18 billion over 12 months. Manufacturing: Webco Industries is expanding to Port Muskogee, while the proposed Inola aluminum smelter faces continued permitting scrutiny from state officials and Attorney General Gentner Drummond. Aerospace & Defense: The industry generates $52.5 billion in annual economic activity in Oklahoma, up $9 billion since 2017. Infrastructure: The state unveiled a $7.3 billion, eight-year highway and bridge plan, though funding limits could delay projects. Workforce: ODOT is offering teachers free STEM workshops and classroom resources for the coming school year; business leaders also say childcare shortages are making hiring harder.

Manufacturing: Sand Springs-based Webco Industries plans to expand at Port Muskogee, upgrading a port-owned facility and aiming to create up to 100 jobs within six months. The site offers multimodal transport links, including the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System. Industrial Permitting: DEQ is seeking more support for emissions estimates in the proposed Inola aluminum smelter’s air-permit application, while Attorney General Gentner Drummond continues pressing regulators to revise proposed rules. Infrastructure: Oklahoma unveiled an eight-year, $7.3 billion highway and bridge plan, with officials citing inflation’s impact on projects. Agriculture: Braman’s Willow Creek Farms Pantry has opened Oklahoma’s first dedicated gluten-free stone mill, turning locally grown sorghum into flour. Researchers at OSU are also part of a multistate project testing satellite data to guide irrigation as water supplies tighten. Data Centers: Oklahoma residents are raising questions about power costs, cooling and accountability as the facilities’ electricity needs put pressure on grids.

Aerospace & Defense: Oklahoma’s sector generates $52.5 billion in annual economic activity and supports more than 250,000 jobs, officials said at the state aerospace forum. Artemis II astronaut Victor Glover highlighted a Stillwater-made spacecraft control system as one example of local industry’s role. Infrastructure: Oklahoma’s eight-year highway plan totals $7.3 billion. In Muskogee, a $44.7 million project will widen and rebuild 2.5 miles of Highway 69, with work set to begin Halloween weekend. Manufacturing: Webco Industries is expanding at Port Muskogee, bringing a multimillion-dollar investment to the area. Energy Costs: Oklahoma officials are weighing ways to ease diesel costs for farmers, as high fuel prices pressure producers. Utilities: OG&E is seeking a $395 million rate increase, a proposal that could raise costs for households and businesses.

Energy: Devon Energy agreed to sell its Eagle Ford assets to Crescent for $4.2 billion, with proceeds earmarked for debt reduction and share repurchases as Devon focuses on core holdings. Agriculture: Gov. Kevin Stitt asked state agencies to seek relief on red-dyed diesel costs for farmers. Oklahoma’s diesel taxes and fees total about 20 cents per gallon, but the scope and timing of any relief depend on federal approval. Aerospace and Defense: A new state study puts the industry’s annual economic impact at $52.5 billion and says it supports more than 250,000 jobs, making it Oklahoma’s second-largest industry. Utilities: OG&E is seeking a $395 million rate increase, while AARP Oklahoma says older residents want data center developers to cover the cost of serving new facilities. Manufacturing: Webco Industries announced a multimillion-dollar expansion at Port Muskogee. Tribal Business: Oklahoma’s Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town joined three California tribes in partnering with Kalshi on branded prediction apps, deepening divisions over whether the business opportunity threatens tribal gaming.

Manufacturing: Webco Industries plans a multimillion-dollar expansion at Port Muskogee, upgrading steel-processing equipment and creating up to 10 jobs in its first six months. The Sand Springs tubing maker says the port’s transport links will support growth. Aerospace & Defense: Oklahoma’s sector generates $52.5 billion in annual economic activity and supports more than 250,000 jobs; Tulsa accounts for over $11 billion and nearly 43,000 jobs. Data Centers & Energy: State lawmakers are weighing rules for data centers amid concerns over electricity bills, water use and limited project disclosures. OG&E has separately requested a $395 million rate increase that would add about $23.88 a month to the average residential bill. Tulsa Startups: Ten Latin American-founded companies have relocated to Tulsa through a local recruitment program; one startup says it secured $4 million to expand production of a natural-solvent product.

Aerospace & Defense: Oklahoma’s sector generates $52.5 billion in annual economic activity, supports more than 250,000 jobs and pays $16.6 billion in wages, according to a new state study. Data Centers: Development remains contentious: the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes imposed a three-year ban, while Oklahoma leaders debate regulation, power and water demands. An Oklahoma City campus is also investing in off-grid power. Energy: ONEOK completed its acquisition of Brazos Midstream’s Permian Midland Basin assets, expanding its footprint in a key producing region. Transportation: A new northbound US-75 to westbound I-44 ramp opens in Tulsa as part of a major interchange rebuild expected to continue through 2028. ODOT also approved a $7.3 billion construction plan, with inflation pushing some projects beyond the state’s eight-year schedule. Agriculture: Recent rain offers limited forage growth and improves prospects for wheat pasture, though much of central and western Oklahoma remains below normal rainfall for the year. Turner Public Schools also secured a $15,000 state grant to buy Oklahoma-grown food, including beef.