Business retention program formed in Oklahoma

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Apr 28, 2009

The Oklahoma Department of Commerce and state utilities have invested in a Web-based business retention and expansion program to help communities make strategic decisions on using resources.

"The challenges our businesses and communities face in today's economy make this the perfect time for us to take aggressive steps to help Oklahoma retain and expand its existing industry," said Natalie Shirley, state secretary of commerce.

The department's partners in the program, ExecutivePulse, are Oklahoma Gas and Electric, Oklahoma Natural Gas, and Public Service Company of Oklahoma.

"Understanding and meeting the needs of businesses is critical to job growth and economic vitality in good times and bad," said Del Birch, vice president of Erie, Pa-based ExecutivePulse.

The Web-based program was developed to help economic, community and work force development professionals create profiles of companies, monitor company metrics, share company profiles and generate and track related activities by partner organizations.