In an aggressive effort to attract knowledge based companies to Ardmore, the Ardmore Development Authority (ADA) has created an incentive for the company to locate in Ardmore, Oklahoma. This incentive is available to companies who have been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I Grant and have been invited to apply for a Phase II. This requirement validates the commercial viability of the technology and the company in order to get successful companies to locate in Ardmore.
The ADA has put an emphasis on recruiting technology companies to diversify and grow the local economy. These companies will bring a highly skilled workforce into the area without competing with the existing industry. The competition with both cities and states in recruiting these companies is very fierce. Major cities have provided significant incentives to technology based companies. Cities without a formal incentive program for technology companies are often eliminated before a company begins their search.
Companies that receive this incentive must meet the rigorous requirements of the program. In addition, the company will have to hire a consultant to write the Phase II grant application. The requirements of the program are to insure that that the ADA is only dealing with quality prospects.
“The ADA is leveraging the technology park and the new incentive with the existing technology and research community which includes Amethyst Research, Inc., and The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation,” states Brien Thorstenberg, ADA Vice President. Amethyst Research develops advanced process technologies that significantly improve the performance of infrared detectors and sensors at substantially reduced production costs. The Noble Foundation, a world class agricultural consultation and research organization, focuses on enhancing production agriculture and plant improvement. “These two organizations prove technology companies can succeed in Ardmore,” Thorstenberg adds.
“We are in serious discussions with four sensor related companies who are strategic partners with Amethyst Research. This incentive program caught their interest which initiated the discussions to locate part of their companies in the Ardmore Technology Park. These types of companies are small when we are recruiting them, but have the potential to have tremendous growth. Amethyst began with 2 employees and now employs over 25,” Thorstenberg concludes.
The first phase of construction of the Ardmore Technology Park will consist of putting in the initial stages of infrastructure to the park, aesthetic improvements to the site and the construction of a 500 square foot building that will be used as a business incubator. The business incubator will house a 500 square foot clean room. The first phase of the technology park should be completed by the end of the 3rdquarter in 2012. Wes Stucky (ADA President and CEO) said, “Frugal management of the ADA operations has resulted in our ability to develop such a program.”
