The Oklahoma Department of Commerce is the state’s leading economic development agency, focused on promoting job creation, fostering business growth, and attracting new investment to Oklahoma. They achieve this by supporting community development, enhancing workforce skills, and offering various incentives to help businesses thrive. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Oklahoma Department of Commerce CEO John Budd to learn more.
John Budd’s Background
Could you tell me more about your background? Budd said:
“I spent most of my career in the private sector with General Electric, the Boston Consulting Group, and Sonic, which is what first brought me to Oklahoma in 2013. I was Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt’s first Chief Operating Officer, overseeing the operations of state agencies. I then worked for the George Kaiser Family Foundation, a Tulsa-based philanthropy, before coming back to state government. So I have worked across multiple sectors and also across the state, which gives me a broad base to lead Oklahoma Commerce.”
“As the CEO of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, I lead our state’s efforts in economic development. This includes teams that focus on business recruitment, local business expansion, small business incubation, enhancing our main street communities, growing our film and music industry, and managing federal grants to help cities around our state address critical issues.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? Budd reflected:
“It’s always exciting to see announcements of big projects like Emirates Global Aluminium’s new smelter or CBC Global Ammunition’s new factory. It’s hard to beat that, but it was just as satisfying to see us celebrate our Main Street Communities at our recent awards dinner. Economic development requires community development to be successful long-term.”
Google’s $9 Billion Commitment
Google’s $9 billion commitment is a major highlight. How did Oklahoma position itself to secure such a large-scale investment from a global technology leader? Budd explained:
“One of Google’s largest data centers is located in Pryor, Oklahoma, giving the state a long-standing relationship with the company. Over the years, Google has continued to reinvest in Oklahoma because of our affordable, reliable energy and business-friendly environment. The state has shown Google that we go above and beyond to support growth and innovation, which is why the company is confident in its decision to invest another $9 billion here over the next two years.”
Helping Business Grow
Beyond Google, more than 200 existing companies have expanded through programs like Oklahoma Innovation Expansion Program (OIEP) and Business Expansion Incentive Program (BEIP). Can you share examples of how these programs are helping local businesses grow? Budd highlighted:
“A lot of people don’t realize that 70% of Oklahoma’s incentives go to existing companies because we want to invest in businesses that invest in our state. The BEIP and OIEP programs have been highly successful in encouraging new capital investment, supporting existing job growth, and creating thousands of new positions. These programs give companies the confidence to move forward with new equipment or facilities, expanding their ability to serve customers—and ultimately creating more jobs for Oklahomans.”
Policy Changes
The state has emphasized cutting taxes, reducing red tape, and creating business courts. Which of these policy changes has had the most immediate impact on attracting new investment? Budd noted:
“Being a business-friendly state isn’t about one thing—it’s about overall policy. Having the lowest cost of doing business in the country and the fourth-lowest tax rate is only part of the equation. Companies also don’t want to wait months, as they often do on the coasts, to receive permits or licenses. Governor Stitt has prioritized licensing modernization by eliminating unnecessary boards and requiring agencies to review and process requests within a reasonable timeframe. When it comes to business courts, Oklahoma gives companies confidence that their disputes will be decided by judges who understand business law and can resolve cases efficiently.”
Growth Sectors For Oklahoma’s Economy
With companies like Emirates Global Aluminium and CBC Global Ammunition making large commitments, what industries are emerging as the strongest growth sectors for Oklahoma’s economy? Budd pointed out:
“Aerospace and defense is Oklahoma’s second-largest and fastest-growing industry. With five military bases and several high-profile wins in defense manufacturing, including CBC Global Ammunition, Oklahoma has become a proud hub for national defense. The state is also working to lead the nation in strengthening domestic supply chains and onshoring critical mineral manufacturing. Critical mineral businesses already employ 519 Oklahomans and generate an annual economic impact of $94.4 million. However, the GDP impact of the EGA project is projected to reach $26.3 billion and will double the nation’s aluminum production.”
Long-Term Job Creation
How is the Department of Commerce working to ensure that this wave of investment translates into long-term job creation and workforce development for Oklahomans? Budd elaborated:
“We know that investment only matters if it leads to real, lasting opportunities for Oklahomans. That’s why the Department of Commerce is focused on both attracting new jobs and preparing our workforce to fill them. We are working hand-in-hand with industry, education, and local communities to build training pipelines that match the needs of employers today and in the future. At the same time, we’re committed to diversifying our economy—supporting our oil and gas legacy while also embracing emerging industries like aerospace and defense, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals. By aligning business growth with workforce development, we’re not just creating jobs—we’re creating careers that will keep talent here and strengthen our communities for years to come.”
Importance Of Quality Of Life In Oklahoma
Oklahoma is being described as both business-friendly and family-friendly. How important is the quality of life in convincing companies and their employees to relocate or expand here? Budd emphasized:
“Community development and economic development are inseparable—one cannot thrive without the other. Companies won’t choose to relocate here, and young families won’t choose to stay, unless they believe Oklahoma offers both a great quality of life and a promising future. CEOs want to know that their employees will be happy here, which is why our Main Street programs are so important. The Oklahoma Standard is real, and it gives us a powerful advantage when businesses and their employees see firsthand what our state has to offer.”
Infrastructure Growth
With institutional allocations projected to grow and global companies taking notice, how is Oklahoma preparing its infrastructure—such as energy, transportation, and housing—to support this rapid growth? Budd told me:
“Oklahoma is proactively strengthening its infrastructure to support continued growth and investment. We are a net energy exporter, so we already have a natural advantage in terms of energy capacity. To augment that, the state recently passed “behind-the-meter” legislation that allows businesses to generate and manage power on-site, improving reliability and reducing costs. Transportation infrastructure remains a priority as well. Oklahoma is working to improve rural highway safety by widening shoulders and strategically planning in larger metro areas to keep commute times short compared to Texas and the coasts, preserving the state’s quality of life even as population and investment rise. Housing and land prices in the state also remain much more affordable compared to competitor states.”
Attracting More High-Tech Investment
Several of the recent announcements involve advanced manufacturing and aerospace. How is the state leveraging its strengths in these areas to attract even more high-tech investment? Budd clarified:
Not only is Oklahoma a national defense hub, but we are also home to the two largest MRO facilities in the world—American Airlines in Tulsa and Tinker Air Force Base near Oklahoma City. With that kind of infrastructure, companies that support the industry naturally gravitate toward our state, and it’s our job to make sure these companies know what Oklahoma has to offer. We are also working to simplify supply chains with projects like the Emirates Global Aluminium smelter at the Port of Inola. EGA is creating 1,000 direct jobs, and we project an additional 3,000 downstream jobs as companies choose to move to or expand in Oklahoma to be in close proximity to the new facility.
Future Goals
Looking ahead, what is the Department of Commerce’s vision for sustaining this momentum? Are there specific goals or targets for capital investment and job creation over the next five years? Budd concluded:
Our strategy is built on five pillars: Responsive Partnerships, Ready Sites, Ready Workforce, Relevant Incentives, and Regional Industry Targets. We understand that businesses and a free market create jobs, not the government. However, at Commerce our job is to partner with businesses, communities, and educational institutions to strengthen our economy, making Oklahoma attractive to companies choosing where to locate or expand, and enhance the workforce pipeline. We’ve had one of the most successful years in state history in terms of job growth and capital investment, but we must continue to be proactive in our recruiting and project management to continue reaching our goals as an agency and state.
