McAlester, Oklahoma

Forging a Path New Development and Opportunity

 

City expansion through a lens of tradition and innovation

For any city to be considered prime for continued growth, its leadership must prioritize fostering a business-friendly environment, engaging with potential investors, and diversifying the local economy.

This means attracting new industries while retaining and expanding existing businesses, creating opportunities for long-term stability and job creation. That is the exact scenario that can be observed in McAlester, Oklahoma.

The city stands at an exciting crossroads, with opportunities to grow and prosper while remaining deeply connected to its rich history. Strategic partnerships with regional and state organizations have been especially key in leveraging resources and expertise, helping McAlester remain competitive on a larger scale.

McAlester’s path to success involves a dual approach: forward-thinking policies with a strong foundation of community-focused initiatives.

Expanding its industries—especially in manufacturing, healthcare, and technology — has been crucial for sustained growth.

This includes attracting new businesses, forging partnerships with regional and national companies, and ensuring that the city’s transportation and utility networks are equipped to handle increased demand.

At the same time, leadership gives the utmost attention to the fundamentals that make a city work, viewing infrastructure upgrades—such as improving roads, utilities, and public spaces—as critical to supporting new growth and maintaining the quality of life for residents.

The revitalization of downtown areas, with investments in community services, education, and recreational facilities, has helped create a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere that attracts businesses and families alike.

The result for McAlester is a bustling, modern city that celebrates its heritage while embracing the future—where economic opportunities are plentiful, and residents are proud to call it home.

As the city grows, it will become a beacon of progress in southeastern Oklahoma—where tradition and innovation meet to create a prosperous future for all.

 

 

 

Preparing a Stage for Economic Growth

One of the critical components of McAlester’s long-term strategy is the diversification of its economic base.

While historically known for its role in the mining and energy sectors, McAlester has embraced new industries to ensure economic stability and growth in the face of shifting market dynamics.

“We are the biggest city in the southeast portion of the state. We’re a regional hub for shopping, healthcare, and numerous things, for the surrounding towns in the area,” says Mayor John Browne.

McAlester boasts a robust and diverse economy, supported by many sectors, including manufacturing, aerospace, and defense. The city is home to the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, one of the largest employers in the region, which plays a critical role in the nation’s defense infrastructure.

The plant provides stable, high-paying jobs and drives technological innovation and economic development throughout the region.

Due to a pre-existing bond debt, the city holds, dating back to 1999, stimulating the local economy with as much development and opportunity is a top priority for McAlester’s leadership.

As a solution, city leadership, in collaboration with regional stakeholders, has identified key industries with the potential for long-term growth.

In addition to defense, McAlester has become a hub for manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare services. These industries provide a solid foundation for the city’s economy and offer a range of employment opportunities.

“We’re trying to round out our portfolio by bringing in some manufacturing, and we’re working towards retail on the southeast side of town… we mostly work off of sales tax, so it makes it a challenge,” says City Manager David Andren.

As a municipality, while McAlester pays property taxes to the county school system, the city doesn’t receive any monetary benefit from its property taxes. Every city improvement has been made through grants and sales taxes.

According to Andren, McAlester’s workforce itself is a driving force behind these efforts as one portion of residents seem to be entirely drawn to manufacturing as a career industry, while the other portion of residents stand firmly with positions in the retail space.

However, laying out the foundation for future economic growth implies laying the groundwork for supporting residential and infrastructural growth.

Revitalizing the McAlester Quality of Life

McAlester understands that to attract new businesses and encourage investment, the necessary infrastructure and housing must be in place.

“We’re in negotiations now on a 200+ housing development… so we can bring people in, skilled labor and workers, to do the jobs that are open,” Andren says.

Fortunately, McAlester’s leaders see economic development as something that is intimately tied to quality of life. In addition to the increase in manufacturing, increasing amenities like shopping and entertainment outlets have been vital to drawing out visitors and residents alike.

Moreover, McAlester’s location is one of its greatest assets. This strategic position has been a key selling point for businesses looking to establish operations in the area.

The city’s location along major transportation routes, including highways and rail lines, makes it an attractive destination for businesses seeking to expand their reach by offering convenient access to markets across Oklahoma and beyond.

The city’s leadership has been proactive in promoting McAlester as a prime destination for companies seeking a central location with a skilled workforce and a supportive business environment.

At the same time, significant resources have been allocated to upgrading roads, utilities, and public services, ensuring that the city can accommodate future growth, with renovations happening even at the residential scale.

“So, we have a Master Trails Plan which focuses on walkability not just from park to park, from school to parks, schools to residential areas, and schools to community services,” Andren says, highlighting how crucial something as subtle as additional accessibility can be for McAlester residents.

This plan is designed to organize McAlesters’ broad network of individual parks and trails into something larger that also synergizes with the city’s other economy-stimulating amenities and essential services.

Currently, McAlester boasts 18 different parks, three splash pads, a 500K gallon swimming pool, and, of course, many a lineup of walking trails like the Parker and Waterways trails currently being renovated.

A key element of McAlester’s growth strategy is the revitalization of its historic downtown district.

Once the bustling heart of the city, downtown McAlester has seen periods of decline over the years. However, recent efforts by city officials, local businesses, and community organizations are breathing new life into this cherished area.

The revitalization initiative aims to restore downtown McAlester to its former glory while introducing modern amenities that cater to today’s residents and visitors. This involves restoring historic buildings, improving streetscapes, and encouraging new businesses to set up shop in the area.

The goal is to create a vibrant, walkable downtown that serves as a gathering place for the community and a destination for tourists.

In recent years, downtown McAlester has seen an influx of new restaurants, boutiques, and cultural venues, all of which contribute to the area’s growing appeal.

The city has also invested in beautification projects, such as landscaping and public art installations, to enhance the visual appeal of the district. These efforts have not only revitalized the downtown area but have also strengthened McAlester’s sense of identity and pride.

 

Partnerships Born from Community-Centered Development

The city recognizes that sustainable growth must benefit the entire community, and as such, efforts are being made to ensure that all residents can take part in McAlester’s progress.

One of the key areas of focus is education. McAlester’s public school system has been a point of pride for the city, and ongoing investments in education are ensuring that students receive the resources and opportunities they need to succeed.

Healthcare is another area where McAlester is making significant strides. The city has seen improvements in healthcare facilities, and much of the motivation to improve its housing situation is so that leaders can start attracting more highly qualified healthcare professionals to the city.

These investments ensure that residents have access to high-quality medical care without needing to travel long distances. Additionally, McAlester’s leaders are committed to promoting public health through community programs that encourage healthy living and wellness.

Beyond education and healthcare, McAlester is focused on creating a safe, convenient environment for all its residents. It is currently in the process of designing what will surely become a gargantuan source of stimulation for the local economy.

“The biggest development we’re getting out here is the airport terminal, which should be done somewhere between November and December… that also brought us into partnership with the Choctaw Nation,” says Mayor Browne.

The partnership is focused on a drone testing program held at Daisy Ranch where autonomous medical kit delivery capabilities are being tested and refined on existing drone technology.

According to Mayor Browne, this is a technology that will start to emerge soon and McAlester is getting in front of the trend before it starts. This would allow it to attract larger manufacturers, like Lockheed Martin, to the area.

As McAlester looks toward the future, its leadership remains committed to fostering growth that benefits everyone. By focusing on infrastructure improvements, economic development, and quality-of-life initiatives, the city is building a foundation for long-term prosperity.

With its unique blend of history, culture, and forward-thinking leadership, the city is charting a course for success that other communities in the region can look to as a model.

AT A GLANCE

The City of McAlester

What: A charming, rapidly expanding city known for its roots in the mining and defense sectors.

Where: Southeastern Oklahoma

Website: www.cityofmcalester.com