Chickasaw Nation, partners to begin development at Ardmore Airpark

This article appeared in the October 2021 edition of the Chickasaw Times

ARDMORE, Okla. – Governor Bill Anoatubby hailed the launch of a $124 million development plan at Ardmore Industrial Airpark as a great example of public and private partnerships.

“For us to come together with the Ardmore Development Authority and our partners at Watco and Knightsbridge Partners in helping to create this opportunity is absolutely wonderful,“ Gov. Anoatubby said in announcing the project Aug. 4.

“We are pleased to add the Chickasaw Nation’s support to this major revamp of an underutilized asset,” he said.

Ardmore Development Authority and WP Global, LLC (a partnership between Watco and Knightsbridge Partners) will complete a multiphase development of the park.

The new entity created by the partnership is Global Transportation & Industrial Park of Oklahoma (GTIP). This development at the Ardmore Industrial Airpark includes more than 200 acres of shovel-ready and build-to-suit land. New opportunities for air, rail and truck transport, as well as spaces for transloading, warehousing, distribution and manufacturing will arise with development.

Gov. Anoatubby said the partnerships formed in the GTIP effort would pay dividends for the community as a whole.

“It’s creating an opportunity for this area,” he said. “We can celebrate today these exciting plans we have for the future of this site.”

Ardmore Development Authority president Mita Bates agreed with Gov. Anoatubby’s assessment of the power of partnerships.

“GTIP will serve as a global hub for commerce and is a perfect example of what can happen when private, local, state, tribal and federal entities collaborate to achieve a shared vision,” Mrs. Bates said.

The site is located in the Chickasaw Nation between Oklahoma City to the north and Dallas-Fort Worth to the south. It includes direct rail access to a BNSF Railway main line, a fully functional airport with 9,000-foot and 5,400-foot runways, quick access to five major highways and uncongested air and ground traffic flow.

As an approved U.S. Foreign-Trade Zone, GTIP accommodates global commerce. Officials said recent electrical, telecommunications, water, sewer and natural gas improvements position the park for immediate development.

“GTIP will be a game-changer, not only for Oklahoma, but for the entire country,” U.S. Rep. Tom Cole said. “The development will attract companies interested in reaching major U.S. markets in a fraction of the time it typically would take. I am honored to champion the project and celebrate this monumental milestone with ADA and WP Global.”

Watco CEO Dan Smith, said he was excited about GTIP’s potential.

“The GTIP site uniquely responds to customer needs, offering direct and uncongested access to air, rail and roadways from a location tenants can tailor to suit their requirements,” Mr. Smith said. “We are excited about creating GTIP as a customizable, centrally located manufacturing and logistics hub that will give current and prospective customers new, virtually unlimited connectivity to regional, national and global markets.”

According to an analysis by Oklahoma City University interim dean and professor of economics Dr. Russel Evans, GTIP has the potential to create as many as 18,000 new Oklahoma jobs with $1.2 billion in labor income.

WP Global is pursuing federal grants to assist with funding for the air cargo and rail portions of the project. In part, grant applications highlight the job opportunities that will be created for Indian citizens who live in and around Ardmore.

The development plan includes roughly $99 million for infrastructure improvements and $26 million for additional warehouse, manufacturing and distribution facilities. A 10,000 square-foot customs facility will be constructed. The industrial park will be powered by solar energy and will include charging stations for electric vehicles.