www.theallianceokc.org January 2017 Vol. 5 Issue 1
2017 will see several MAPS 3 milestones
This year is going to be a busy year for MAPS 3, with many of the projects seeing major milestones. Here are updates on a few of the projects. For full updates on all of the MAPS 3 projects visit the MAPS 3 page on the city’s website.
Groundbreaking for the MAPS 3 Modern Streetcar, to be known as the Oklahoma City Streetcar, is scheduled for Feb. 7. Construction will begin along E. Sheridan Avenue in Bricktown.
Construction of the MAPS 3 Downtown Public Park will ramp up in 2017. The 70-acre park will include everything from a cafe and sports facilities to nature trails.
Design of the MAPS 3 Convention Center project should be complete by the end of 2017, with construction beginning early next year.
Two of the four Senior Health and Wellness Centers will open this year. The first, at 11501 N. Rockwell Ave., will open in February. The second, 4021 S. Walker Ave., is expected to open later in the year.
Online surveys are open until Feb. 28 for community input on the 2017 GO Bond. Contact Neighborhood Alliance, (405) 528-6322, to schedule neighborhood presentations.
Take a Seat, Please
Make a meaningful contribution to our community by taking a seat in the historic Page Woodson School Auditorium. Your seat can be "reserved" for a one-time gift of $500.
Brass plaques will be permanently affixed to the auditorium chairs with the name of the supporter, person or entity honored.
For more information, and to reserve your seat visit ProgressOKC.
From Cathy O'Connor, Alliance President
Funding education critical to economic development
Schools and economic development are interdependent in every community. Great schools have a magnet effect – attracting highly educated workers who want quality education for their children, as well as the companies that employ them.
A thriving economy, where people earn top wages, creates more tax support for schools. You can’t have great schools without a growing economy and vice versa.
While our city government doesn’t control funding for schools (revenue comes from federal, state, county and city taxes or fees, appropriated by the Legislature to the Oklahoma Department of Education), we can encourage changes to allow local control on how and at what level our schools are funded.
Our City Council recently inked a resolution of support for the Oklahoma City Public Schools, and the mayor and city manager jointly authored an opinion piece about giving Oklahoma City residents local control over the mill levy and elimination of certain tax exemptions.
Follow @dtOKCbuilds for picture updates of downtown development projects.
About The Alliance
The Alliance was created in 2011 to better serve the economic development needs of Oklahoma City. With its collaboration with city and private entities, the Alliance acts as a comprehensive resource for business in need of assistance from the public sector.
