2016 NEDC SummitSteve Lewis, City ManagerCITY OF NORMAN

• Place matters because people can live where they desire. Many talented workers choose their community first instead of living in the community where a job happens to be.

• In a knowledge-based information economy, jobs now go where the talent is versus talent going where the jobs are.

“Facing a tight labor market and shortage of skilled workers, many large companies say that a city or region’s population of desirable workers is now the top factor in location decisions.” (“Companies Flock to Cities with Top Talent,” Wall Street Journal, April 12, 2016)

NEDC SUMMIT | STEVE LEWIS | CITY MANAGER | CITY OF NORMAN

Power of Collaboration“Every city needs a team to work on the alignment, focus, and strategies that put all business and local institutions of absolutely every kind on the same page. Meanwhile, the whole city has to be participating, highly coordinated, and working out of the same playbook to win.” - Jim Clifton, from The Coming Jobs War

NEDC SUMMIT | STEVE LEWIS | CITY MANAGER | CITY OF NORMAN

Quality of Life• Quality of Life Economic Development

Quality of Life – Safety and Security– Parks and Greenspace– Sports Venues – Recreation Activities– Transportation

NEDC SUMMIT | STEVE LEWIS | CITY MANAGER | CITY OF NORMAN

New and Future Initiatives• NORMAN FORWARD Projects• Lindsey Street Projects• Center City Form-Based Code• Griffin Hospital Site Redevelopment Plan• Downtown & Campus Corner Parking Study• Comprehensive Land Use Plan

– Urban design and placemaking– Redevelop areas to catalyze investments– Community profile (economic development opportunities)

Economic Development Support• NEDC funding• Tourism funding via the room tax• Development Coordinator• Retail Marketing Coordinator• Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB)

NEDC SUMMIT | STEVE LEWIS | CITY MANAGER | CITY OF NORMAN

Economic Development Support• Infrastructure– Long term water supply plan– Street Improvements– Transportation plan

NEDC SUMMIT | STEVE LEWIS | CITY MANAGER | CITY OF NORMAN

Positions Challenging to Fill• Police officers• 9-1-1/Communications

officers• Engineering • Information/Technology

NEDC SUMMIT | STEVE LEWIS | CITY MANAGER | CITY OF NORMAN

How You Can Assist Us• Continue positive momentum with your support of

capital projects, quality of life initiatives and infrastructure improvements.

• Volunteer to serve on a Board or Commission, or provide opportunities for your emerging leaders to volunteer. They get leadership opportunities and we benefit from diverse and talented representation on committees.

NEDC SUMMIT | STEVE LEWIS | CITY MANAGER | CITY OF NORMAN