PRYOR, Okla. — The MidAmerica Industrial Park in Pryor is in the running for another major employer.

Last week FOX23 told you about Northern Data’s decision to locate its North American headquarters in Pryor.

MidAmerica Industrial Park CEO David Stewart talked about Oklahoma’s potential to land another large employer.

“it’s a very large employer,” Stewart said, “they’re going to be a great employer with high paying jobs, in excess of maybe 4,000 employees and an investment in the six billion dollar range.”

The industrial park is already busy laying the groundwork for Canoo, with plans in the works to open a plant to build electric vehicles beginning in 2023.

Stewart says they hope to have a final agreement signed within the next 30-to-60 days.

The MidAmerica Industrial Park is also pushing ahead with plans to develop housing for the employees that will be moving to the area for good paying jobs.

The industrial park has already acquired about 800 acres of land near it’s mixed used development that already boasts retail space and a restaurant as part of the area known as ‘The District’s’ first phase.

Stewart says a developer will oversee the construction of a 300-unit apartment complex in phase two and 100 residential homes will be part of a planned community as part of the third phase in ‘The District’.

Stewart says he’s in talks with the local communities to help them get ready for the expected growth:

“Each community has this local feel,” Stewart said, “and we don’t want to take that away.”

The city of Pryor is doing its part to get ready for the influx of new employees.

Mayor Larry Lees tells FOX23 the city has hired an economic development consultant as they get ready to move ahead with plans to build new housing at two different sites.

Roosevelt Crossing will boast 52 homes at Northeast 5th and Elliott Street in Pryor.

“So when we build our property density,” he explained, “all of that benefits the city of Pryor by sales tax revenue.”

MidAmerica Industrial Park’s newest neighbor, Northern Data, hopes to add 300 jobs over time.

Once it signs a final agreement, Canoo will employ more than 1,000 employees.

FOX23 stopped by Thomas’ Restaurant in Pryor, which has been open for decades, to get their take on the growth spurt.

Crystal Shrader has been serving customers for seven years, and business is brisk these days.

“Business has picked up,” she remarked, “housing is coming, there’s new businesses coming into town.”

Shrader says new businesses moving into the industrial park is good for her bottom line.

“There’s really not a lot out that way,” she noted, “they have that new center out there but not really a lot in there so people still have to come into town to eat.”

Long-time resident Ellen Knight is taking advantage of the growth by running three Airbnb’s.

“We have an excellent occupancy rate,” Knight said, “and it’s a really great mix between long term guests and people passing through, and I think that’s directly related to the growth.”

It’s not just entrepreneurs like Ellen Knight who are benefitting. The schools in Pryor have gotten more than 70% of the property tax revenue from Google since it moved into the park.

Right now, the state of Oklahoma is picking up the tab as part of a five-year exemption.

For the 2021 tax year, the county treasurer says the Pryor school district should get $33 million dollars from the state.

The Chouteau School District will benefit from the addition of Canoo, once they begin operations in the industrial park.

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