Big employer taking hard look at OKC

[Steve]

It was Macy's!

Macy's to open distribution facility near Tulsa employing more than 1,000
By RHETT MORGAN - Tulsa World • Modified: December 17, 2013 at 6:37 am • Published: December 17, 2013

National retailer Macy's Inc. is expected to announce Tuesday that it is opening a distribution center that will provide more than 1,000 new jobs near Cherokee Industrial Park, according to multiple sources.

Gov. Mary Fallin is expected to visit Tulsa for a 1 p.m. press conference to make the announcement.

Macy's will locate a distribution center — known as a "fulfillment center" — east of the industrial park, which is located near U.S. 75 and 76th Street North. No one would comment publicly Monday on whom the employer would be or provide details about the jobs.

Yep. This is the one that Oklahoma City had a shot at. This is a much needed shot in the arm for Tulsa, and we should celebrate that Tulsa got it, and not some other state. Amazon was never in the mix - but if it had, it would have been an even much bigger deal.

[onthestrip]

Wow, Macy's moves so much merchandise that they will employ 1000 people at those distribution center? Why am I having a hard time believing this will employ 1000 people? Sounds a little inflated if you ask me.

[Steve]

And people really thought this was Amazon, slowly beginning to realize people on here really don't know anything...

Pete was pretty damn close.

[In_Tulsa]

Wow, Macy's moves so much merchandise that they will employ 1000 people at those distribution center? Why am I having a hard time believing this will employ 1000 people? Sounds a little inflated if you ask me.

Macy's Martinsburg center to hire 2,100 seasonal workers
By The Associated Press
Advertiser
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. (AP) - Macy's Inc. plans to hire about 2,100 seasonal workers at its fulfillment center in Martinsburg for the upcoming holiday season.

That's three times the number of seasonal workers that the company initially projected it would hire.

Macy's spokesman Jim Sluzewski tells The Herald-Mail of Hagerstown, Md., that more seasonal workers are needed because of rapid growth in the company's online business.

The center employs 1,100 year-round workers.

Seasonal positions include full-time human resource administrator, overnight maintenance engineer, seasonal warehouse associate and seasonal security associate.



Macy's Martinsburg center to hire 2,100 seasonal workers - News - The Charleston Gazette - West Virginia News and Sports -

[kevinpate]

Wow, Macy's moves so much merchandise that they will employ 1000 people at those distribution center? Why am I having a hard time believing this will employ 1000 people? Sounds a little inflated if you ask me.

Macy's sells. Did not have a clue this project was them, but I also do not have any problem believing the projected job numbers now that it's out there. this is a great thing for OK in general, and Tulsa/Owasso area in particular.

Would have been nice to have it here, as I know several folks who could use a better job than the one(s) they presently hold down. But this is still a good big picture event.

[Pete]

I should know more details as to why OKC was passed over soon.

Something went sideways in terms of the site negotiation.

[hoya]

And people really thought this was Amazon, slowly beginning to realize people on here really don't know anything...

All you ever do is bitch and moan about how people here don't know anything. I don't need to see that. Ignore.

[Pete]

I did want to point out that nowhere other than here has there been even the slightest hint that OKC was in on this.

We also knew all about the size and number of employees and that Owasso was going to get it when OKC was eliminated.

Even the people in OKC economic devlopment that were negotiating directly with the consultant didn't know the company and they too thought it was Amazon.

[jn1780]

Pete was pretty damn close.

Yes, the growth in online retail is the primary reason this Fulfillment Center was needed by Macy's. Their trying to stay competitive with Amazon.

Macy's, Inc. to Build Major New Fulfillment Center in Tulsa County, Oklahoma, to Support Omnichannel Growth - MarketWatch

[Plutonic Panda]

And people really thought this was Amazon, slowly beginning to realize people on here really don't know anything...

Yeah, and what do you know? Anyone on here said they *THINK* it might be a Amazon distribution center, and I glad it wasn't one, because that means in the future, OKC might land an Amazon distribution center. If the one in Tulsa had in fact been Amazon, OKC wouldn't have ever got one, now we at least have a chance.

BTW, do you even know anyone on here? I'm willing to bet, besides Pete and Steve, there are a lot of posters and lurkers that know a lot more about things going on in OKC than anyone realizes.

[flintysooner]

Incentives Help Tulsa County Land Macy's Distribution Center - NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com |

Macy's chose a field just outside the city limits of Owasso for the location, after looking at 150 sites. The city put in a half million dollars, and the state is still negotiating other cash incentives, for worker training and infrastructure development.

[catch22]

Half a million? OKC couldn't come up with any more than that?

[LakeEffect]

Half a million? OKC couldn't come up with any more than that?

I think Pete said above it had to do with siting...

[Pete]

Yes, I'm hoping to learn more about what happened with OKC, as we got right to the end then were eliminated.

And I'm told it wasn't over incentives, but something to do with the site.


BTW, I was incorrect when I said that those actively negotiating on OKC's behalf did not know this was Macys. I was told today that they did know, but that otherwise Macys used a code name (Project Socrates) to try and keep their identity as discrete as possible.

Other people in economic development were aware or the project but not the identity of the company.

[Steve]

Pete, I'm suspecting - but I have no proof - it involves the participation of the Cherokees....

[ljbab728]

Darn those Cherokees. LOL

We need to get the Chickasaws, Arapahoes, and Cheyennes busy to help us.

[Dubya61]

Pete, I'm suspecting - but I have no proof - it involves the participation of the Cherokees....

a nuance, I know, but do you suspect the Cherokees were wooing Socrates TO them? or AWAY from a known competitor? or both?

[onthestrip]

Maybe it wasnt such a bad thing that Macy's went to Tulsa and not OKC since millions in incentives were given out. Granted, property tax abatement is probably the most palatable of any incentive but Macy's certainly seemed to get the royal treatment. Giving them a sales tax exemption on the construction of the facility is really the worst part and totally unnecessary.

Macy's gets array of incentives to locate center in Tulsa County - Tulsa World: Owasso

[David]

Yikes, $21 million in tax breaks and incentives? Makes me wonder if there is a point where you have offered so many incentives that there is no longer a benefit to having the company in the area.

[soonerguru]

Maybe it wasnt such a bad thing that Macy's went to Tulsa and not OKC since millions in incentives were given out. Granted, property tax abatement is probably the most palatable of any incentive but Macy's certainly seemed to get the royal treatment. Giving them a sales tax exemption on the construction of the facility is really the worst part and totally unnecessary.

Macy's gets array of incentives to locate center in Tulsa County - Tulsa World: Owasso

And there you have it. Which city looks desperate here? Geez.

All of those people bemoaning this "loss" probably should eat a dish of crow. This is exactly what we thought: OKC picking its battles -- and very wisely in this case. My goodness Tulsa seems desperate.

[Just the facts]

So it looks like it will take local government around 75 years (give or take 25 years) to recoup their costs. That makes a lot of sense. And people still wonder why governments at every level are swimming in debt.

[adaniel]

Wow and only 367 full time jobs out of nearly 1,400.

Its telling that from what I read, they are not getting anything from Quality Jobs Incentive Program, which requires the median pay to be at least the county average.

Very glad OKC passed on this. Sounds like a raw deal for Tulsa and the state.

[Pete]

I'm still hoping to find out what happened with the OKC negotiations.

[onthestrip]

In all this, the worst part is that a large majority of these jobs are part time. They like to use the fancy language of "full-time equivalent" but of 1,387 jobs they claim they will create, 1,020 of these jobs are part time. Woohoo! We gave away $21million for 1,000 people to get a few hours of work and no real benefits.

[soonerguru]

This really shows just how much further OKC is ahead of Tulsa in economic development right now. We probably laughed and walked away from the negotiations. We're working much bigger deals, including corporate HQs and expansions.