Despite tough economy, now is the time to plan for growth

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November 24, 2009

Anonymous The Enid News and Eagle Tue Nov 24, 2009, 10:35 PM CST

Times are tough.

That is made evident by reading the economic news. Nationally, unemployment stands at 10.2 percent, a 26-year high.

Locally the news is somewhat better, with Oklahoma’s unemployment rate currently at 7.1 percent, a 21-year zenith. The most recent employment numbers for Enid put our jobless rate at 4.3 percent.

We’re doing better than the rest of the nation, but this would nonetheless seem a somewhat risky time to plan to build a hotel, apartments and a restaurant. That is, however, just what is going on in Enid.

Metropolitan Area Planning Commission recently approved plans for building apartments at Pheasant Run on West Chestnut, as well as a new hotel, restaurant and apartment complex on West Garriott.

Even though Oklahoma still is feeling the effects of the worst economic recession in decades, this is the time to build for the future. If you want your city to grow you have to plan for growth and build for it, not simply hope for it.

When the $20 million Armed Forces Reserve Center is completed sometime late in 2010, Enid will host dozens of National Guard and Army Reserve troops nearly every weekend.

Last spring Jon Blankenship, president and chief executive officer of Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce, reported Enid’s average hotel occupancy rate was 56 percent, which is considered good. Projects like the Armed Forces Reserve Center and the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, figure to increase that rate. Then, of course, there are special events such as the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II World Series baseball tournament, which returns to Enid next May, that fill our local motel rooms. And Enid remains a medical center for northwest Oklahoma, as well as a banking, education, entertainment and shopping destination.

We are encouraged by the fact these developers want to make this kind of investment in Enid’s future.

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Despite tough economy, now is the time to plan for growth

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