Norman aims to retain high-income families with new entertainment district
By Meghan Mosley
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NORMAN, Okla. (KOCO) — 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.
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.
The Rock Creek Entertainment District is expected to be completed by 2029.
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