Oklahoma Department of Commerce

What Oklahoma Department of Commerce does

The Oklahoma Department of Commerce is a state government agency headquartered at 900 N. Stiles Ave. in Oklahoma City, serving as the state's primary economic development entity. Founded in 1986 and operating under the executive branch with 51-100 employees, it is led by CEO John Budd and structured around five core divisions: ACES (Aerospace Commerce Economic Services), the Film + Music Office, the Oklahoma Main Street Center, CORE (Community Outreach and Revitalization Enterprise), and EDGE (Economic Development Growth and Expansion).

Its portfolio consists of incentive programs (Quality Jobs, BEIP, OIEP, Rural Jobs Act, SIDE Act, 21st Century Quality Jobs) that provide cash rebates, grants, and tax credits to qualifying businesses, alongside direct services including site selection support, workforce development coordination, international trade missions, and community development block grants. The agency serves four primary constituencies: existing and prospective businesses seeking relocation or expansion, local governments and Economic Development Organizations, international companies and markets pursuing U.S. entry, and Community Action Agencies delivering federally funded social services.

The agency is funded through state budget appropriations and provides all services at no cost to recipients. Its GTM motion is sales-led, with dedicated business recruitment specialists, regional development experts, and a Site Selection Team that conducts inbound visits with international delegations and outbound trade missions. Distribution occurs through direct enterprise engagement, supplemented by digital self-serve resources on okcommerce.gov, monthly newsletters, social channels, and participation in events such as SelectUSA, the Oklahoma Aerospace & Defense Industry Day, and the Oklahoma Select Conference on Economic Development.

Name

Oklahoma Department of Commerce

Legal name

Oklahoma Department of Commerce

Website

https://okcommerce.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Administration of Economic Programs (9261), Administration of Economic Programs (926)

SIC

Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)

akta.pro primary industry

Trade, Industry & Economic Development Administration (BPAIAAAL)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Business incentive programs
• Site selection assistance
• Workforce development programs
• Foreign direct investment

Headquarters

HQ city

Oklahoma City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. State Government Funding: Funded through state budget appropriations for economic development activities including census planning, Olympics preparation, and various incentive programs.

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The Oklahoma Department of Commerce is the state's primary economic development agency. It administers cash rebate and tax credit incentive programs (Quality Jobs, BEIP, OIEP, Rural Jobs Act, SIDE Act), provides confidential site selection and incentives analysis to businesses, manages workforce development partnerships, runs industry-focused programs such as ACES for aerospace & defense and the Oklahoma Film + Music Office, and delivers community development programs including Main Street revitalization, Community Development Block Grants, and weatherization services.

Product overview

The Oklahoma Department of Commerce operates as the state's primary economic development agency, offering a portfolio of incentive programs and business services rather than a unified technology product. The core offerings include multiple incentive programs (Quality Jobs, BEIP, OIEP, Rural Jobs Act, SIDE Act) that provide cash rebates and tax incentives to businesses creating jobs; industry-focused programs like ACES for aerospace and defense and the Oklahoma Film + Music Office for creative industries; community development initiatives including the Oklahoma Main Street Program and Community Development Block Grants; and direct business services such as site selection assistance, workforce development support, and trade/export services. These programs work together to attract new businesses, support existing company expansion, and drive economic growth across Oklahoma's diverse industry sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Quality Jobs Incentive Program A state incentive program that provides cash rebates to companies creating quality jobs in Oklahoma, aimed at attracting and retaining businesses with competitive wage and benefit packages.
• Small Employer Quality Jobs Program An incentive program designed for smaller employers to receive cash rebates when creating quality jobs, providing accessible support for small and medium-sized businesses.
• 21st Century Quality Jobs Incentive An incentive program targeting knowledge-based industries and high-wage job creation to position Oklahoma as a leader in emerging economic sectors.
• Rural Jobs Act An incentive program designed to stimulate economic growth and job creation in Oklahoma's rural communities by providing benefits to businesses locating or expanding in eligible rural areas.
• SIDE Act Oklahoma Strategic Industrial Development Enhancement Act providing incentives for strategic industrial development projects that create jobs and investment in targeted sectors.
• Oklahoma Tourism Development Act A program offering tax incentives for tourism-related development projects including hotels, attractions, and recreational facilities that drive visitor spending and economic impact.
• Investment/New Jobs Tax Credit Package A tax credit package providing financial incentives for businesses making capital investments and creating new jobs in Oklahoma.
• Business Expansion Incentive Program (BEIP) A program that provides grants to existing Oklahoma companies for expansion projects that create new jobs and increase capital investment, supporting in-state business growth.
• Oklahoma Innovation Expansion Program (OIEP) A program supporting innovation and expansion at existing Oklahoma companies through incentive applications, with record applications leading to over 1,200 new jobs.
• Oklahoma Main Street Program A coordinating program with Main Street America that helps communities revitalize their commercial districts through organization, promotion, design, and economic vitality initiatives.
• ACES (Aerospace Commerce Economic Services) A comprehensive program focused on recruiting, retaining, and expanding Oklahoma's aerospace and defense industry, helping secure capital investment and create jobs in the sector.
• Oklahoma Film + Music Office A division promoting Oklahoma as a hub for film, television, and music production, facilitating productions and supporting workforce and business growth in creative industries.
• Weatherization Assistance Program A program helping low-income families reduce energy costs by improving the energy efficiency of their homes through weatherization improvements.
• STEP Fund (State Trade Expansion Program) A grant program providing funding to assist eligible small businesses with export development activities to expand into international markets.
• Community Development Block Grant Programs Federal grant programs supporting community development activities including infrastructure improvements, public services, and economic development in eligible communities.
• Site Selection Services Professional economic development services providing confidential guidance to companies seeking to locate or expand operations in Oklahoma, including incentive analysis and location support.

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Hitachi Ltd.flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 May 2026Memorandum of Cooperation signed at SelectUSA Investment Summit focused on energy infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and digital solutions. Hitachi has operated in Oklahoma for nearly 40 years with over 200 employees in Norman and is investing $4 million in new machinery through BEIP.
• Port MuskogeecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Coordinated to support Global Machine Company's application for Business Expansion Incentive Program. Port serves as multimodal hub for industrial development.
• Importers & Exporters Association of TaipeicoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 March 2026MOU creating direct business liaison between Oklahoma and Taiwan to foster bilateral trade investment partnerships across aerospace, defense, and agribusiness sectors. Oklahoma also opening Oklahoma-Taiwan Regional Trade Office.
• Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 March 2026Partnered on MOU with Importers & Exporters Association of Taipei and announced opening of Oklahoma-Taiwan Regional Trade Office as authorized by SB 209.
• Greater Oklahoma City ChambercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 January 2026Facilitated MyDefence's establishment of first U.S. production operation in Oklahoma City as part of regional strategy to attract aerospace and defense technology companies.
• ACES (Aerospace Commerce Economic Services)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 April 2025Comprehensive program for recruiting and retaining aerospace industry. Since 2018, the state has invested $9.35 million which helped secure over $2 billion in cumulative capital investment (216% ROI).
• Oklahoma State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for research, workforce development, and drone technology. Collaborated with MyDefence at Hamm Institute for American Energy. OSU's Unmanned System Research Institute conducts drone delivery research.
• Governor Kevin Stitt's AdministrationflagshipOthersClose collaboration on business-friendly policies including tax cuts, permitting modernization, and business courts. Governor signed MOC with Hitachi and supports major industrial projects.
• Oklahoma Employment Security CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for workforce development initiatives including vocational training missions and aligning workforce with employer demands.
• Oklahoma CareerTechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for vocational training and workforce development programs, including German trade missions for sustainable partnerships in vocational training.
• Oklahoma State Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on workforce pipeline development connecting K-12, career technology, and higher education institutions.
• Rose State CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Oklahoma Aerospace & Defense Industry Day 2026 with 130+ industry leaders. Secured $750,000 grant for Oklahoma's first Simulation Technology degree.
• Oklahoma Aeronautics CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on aerospace education programs including drone integration in high school curriculum and teacher training.
• Oklahoma Main Street CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinating program with Main Street America since 1985 for commercial district revitalization. Has facilitated $1.7 billion in public/private investment over 34 years.
• Cherokee NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTribal partnership for film industry growth. Cherokee Film Studios expanding with 10,000 sq ft soundstage. First tribally-owned production facilities in Oklahoma and Indian Country.
• Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on aerospace teacher training ranked #1 in the nation for third year, promoting STEM opportunities in aviation sector.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development: Tennessee's ECD operates an analogous structure of incentive programs (FastTrack), industry-focused recruitment (especially automotive and aerospace), and rural development initiatives. The agency is a direct competitor for manufacturing and FDI projects in the same geography.
• Kansas Department of Commerce: Kansas Commerce is a directly comparable state agency providing business recruitment, incentive administration, workforce development, and international trade services. The agencies share geographic adjacency and compete for similar aerospace, agriculture, and manufacturing projects.
• Georgia Department of Economic Development: Georgia's statewide economic development agency runs a comparable portfolio of incentive programs, site selection services, and international trade missions targeting similar industries (aerospace, automotive, technology, film). Both agencies emphasize workforce development pipelines and pursue hyperscaler data center investments.
• Nevada Governor's Office of Economic Development: Nevada GOED offers parallel economic development services including site selection, tax incentive administration, and industry recruitment. Nevada competes with Oklahoma for logistics, manufacturing, and technology investments, with similar Right-to-Work labor frameworks.
• Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade: Colorado OEDIT administers a comparable portfolio of incentive programs, business recruitment services, and international trade initiatives. Both agencies focus on technology, aerospace, and renewable energy sectors while competing for similar employer pools.
• North Carolina Department of Commerce: NC Commerce is a structurally similar state agency providing business recruitment, incentive administration, workforce development, and international trade services. The two agencies compete directly for technology, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing investments.
• Indiana Economic Development Corporation: Indiana's public-private economic development corporation runs comparable incentive programs, site selection services, and industry-focused recruitment (especially advanced manufacturing and logistics). IEDC's structure and aggressive deal-making approach mirrors Oklahoma's under the current administration.
• Arizona Commerce Authority: Arizona's public-private economic development agency offers nearly identical services—site selection, incentive packages, workforce development, and international trade promotion—and competes with Oklahoma for semiconductor, aerospace, and data center projects. Both agencies emphasize central geography and pro-business policies.

Broad incumbents

• Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office: Texas's state-level economic development office is the most direct comparable in scope and incentive offerings, competing head-to-head with Oklahoma for the same hyperscaler, aerospace, and FDI projects. Functions nearly identically to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce in business recruitment, incentive administration, and international trade promotion.

Others

• Site Selection Magazine / Conway Projects Database: Site Selection is the industry's leading publication and data provider tracking state economic development agency performance, project wins, and incentive competition. While not a direct peer, it is the primary benchmarking and intelligence source that state EDOs (including Oklahoma) measure themselves against.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/okcommerce
• Facebookfacebook.com/okcommerce
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oklahoma-department-of-commerce
• Xx.com/okcommerce

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments7 records

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Frequently asked questions about Oklahoma Department of Commerce