Oklahoma Department of Commerce - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Oklahoma Department of Commerce is a department

Government agency

A government or state agency is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an intelligence agency. There is a notable variety of agency types...

of the government of Oklahoma

Government of Oklahoma

The government of the US State of Oklahoma, established by the Oklahoma Constitution, is a republican democracy modeled after the Federal government of the United States. The state government has three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial...

under the Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Tourism

Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Tourism

The Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Tourism is a member of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor...

. The Department is responsible for the supporting local communities, stimulating growth of the existing businesses, attracting new business, and promoting the development and availability of a skilled workforce. The Department is the lead agency for economic development

Economic development

Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...

in the state. The Department is led by and under the control of a Director appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma

Governor of Oklahoma

The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...

, with the approval of the Oklahoma Senate

Oklahoma Senate

The Oklahoma Senate is the upper house of the two houses of the Legislature of Oklahoma, the other being the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The total number of Senators is set at 48 by the Oklahoma Constitution....

, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

The current Cabinet Secretary is Dave Lopez

Dave Lopez

Dave Lopez is an American telecommunications executive who is currently the Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Tourism under Governor of Oklahoma Mary Fallin. Governor Fallin named Lopez as Secretary on January 27, 2011.-Biography:...

, who was appointed by Governor Mary Fallin

Mary Fallin

Mary Fallin is the 27th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. She was a U.S. Representative for from 2007 until 2011....

on January 27, 2011. Governor Fallin also appointed Lopez as Director of the Department concurrent with his service as Secretary.

The Department of Commerce was established in 1993 during the term of Governor David Walters

David Walters

David Lee Walters was the 24th Governor of Oklahoma from 1991 to 1995.-Biography:Walters was born near Canute, Oklahoma. He graduated as valedictorian from Canute High School in 1969. He later graduated from University of Oklahoma in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering...

Mission

To increase the quantity and quality of jobs available in Oklahoma by:

Supporting communities;
Supporting the growth of existing businesses and entrepreneurs;
Attracting new businesses; and
Promoting the development and availability of a skilled workforce.

Leadership

The Department is led by the Secretary of Commerce and Tourism

Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Tourism

and the Director of the Department of Commerce. Under Governor of Oklahoma

Governor of Oklahoma

Mary Fallin

Mary Fallin is the 27th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. She was a U.S. Representative for from 2007 until 2011....

, Dave Lopez

Dave Lopez

is serving concurrently in both positions. He currently serves as president of the American Fidelity Foundation as well.

Organization

Cabinet Secretary
Director
- Chief of Staff
  - Economic Development Contracts Division - oversees the administration of economic development contracts across the State
- Chief Administrative Officer
  - Administrative Services Division - provides administrative support services to entire Department and manages Department financial resources
  - Human Resources Division - provides all personnel services for Department
- Deputy Director for Business Services
  - Business Location Division - responsible for recruiting new business investment to Oklahoma
  - Business Solutions Division - responsible for the retention and creation of jobs in existing businesses in Oklahoma
  - Export Solutions Division - Contribute significantly to sustainable economic development through export trade and the attraction of foreign direct investment through public and private sector cooperation and collaboration.
    - China Trade Office
    - Mexico Trade Office
    - Israel Trade Office
    - Vietnam Trade Office
- Deputy Director for Community Development
  - Community Development Division - provides assistance to local communities in the investment of federal, state, and local resources in strategically targeted community development projects
  - Main Street Center - provides training, technical assistance, guidance, resources and recognition to people, organizations and communities
- Deputy Director for Marketing and Communications
  - Business Incentives Analysis Division - provides information on State's business climate, tax incentives, and financial advantages and assists in the development of incentive proposals
  - Research and Marketing Division - provides information, intelligence and analysis for decision-support and communication, conduct policy research and development, and conduct legislative liaison activities.
- Deputy Director and General Counsel
  - Legal Affairs Division - provides legal services to the Department

Staffing

The Commerce Department, with an annual budget of $100 million, is one of the smaller employers of the State. For fiscal year 2011, the Department was authorized 156 full time employees in FY2009.

Program	Number of Employees
Operational Support Administrative Services Human Resources Legal Services Research and Marketing	68
Community Development Community Development Main Street Center	45
Global Business Business Solutions Business Location Export Solutions	32
Economic Development Contracts	11
Total	156

Budget

The Commerce Department has an annual budget of several hundred million dollars, making it one of the smaller appropriated agenices of the State. For fiscal year 2011, the Department's budget consists of 20% in annual appropriations and 80% in federal grants. The Department's divisions have the following budgets:

Division	Budget (in millions)
Operational Support	$8.4
Community Development	$22.8
Global Business	$4.3
Economic Development Contracts	$265.6
Total	$300.6

Supporting Agencies

Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency
Oklahoma housing finance agency
The Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency is a non-profit organization which serves the people of Oklahoma by offering affordable housing resources, including loans and rent assistance. OHFA was created by an Executive Order by Governor of Oklahoma David L. Boren in 1975. OHFA is a public trust with the...
Oklahoma Department of Labor
Oklahoma Department of Labor
The Oklahoma Department of Labor is an agency of the government of Oklahoma that is headed by the Oklahoma Labor Commissioner, a statewide elected position...
Native American Cultural & Educational Authority of Oklahoma
Oklahoma Economic Development Databases
Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority

External links

Department of Commerce homepage

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