related investments. “We have about a $60 million influx going right now in Frederick,” he remarks. At the same time, Frederick is turning attention to its downtown corridor. The city and the Chamber of Commerce are partnering on landscape and revitalization projects, making Main Street more inviting for residents and visitors. Ouellette underscores, “We have a drive in Frederick that’s not been done in 30 years.” FREDERICK REGIONAL AIRPORT Another of Frederick’s assets is its regional airport, with a 6,100 foot runway built during World War II. The airport is home to the Airborne Demonstration Team, which trains on original C-47 aircraft to reenact World War II jumps. Twice a year, participants from around the world come to learn and to honor this interesting history. Additionally, the airport has ties to global defense. “The majority of the NATO pilots that fly Europe right now were trained at Sheppard Air Force Base. They use Frederick as the auxiliary airfield to train their pilots,” says Ouellette. “They also help to maintain our runway. We’ve got one of the probably most well kept runways of that size here in the state of Oklahoma, and that’s all thanks to the Air Force and the relationship we have with them.” The airport also offers potential for the local economy, and the city recently built a new $800,000 hangar utilizing grant funding and is looking for an ideal tenant. Ouellette recounts, “A four or five man shop, that’s what we built it for. We’re hoping to find a tenant to bring in a couple more families to the city. Our goal is to bring in about 250 to 350 people a year over the next five years.” HISTORY AND TOURISM Frederick’s unique heritage adds to its appeal, with anecdotes like that of the Abernathy boys, ages five and eight, who rode horses to New York City for Theodore Roosevelt’s inauguration. Roosevelt himself gave a speech in Frederick in 1905, pledging that Oklahoma would become a state. “We have 7 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 09 FREDERICK, OK
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