About The Roundtable
The Oklahoma Business Roundtable serves as the state’s major economic development support organization.
Comprised of over 110 top Oklahoma corporations and business organizations, the Roundtable provides important business development advice and assistance to the Governor, the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and other state leaders. Private funding is needed for business development efforts when state appropriated funds cannot be used.
The Roundtable helps fund important business promotion activities to spur the expansion and recruitment of new business in Oklahoma. Roundtable members also play a key role in contacting and hosting both domestic and international clients.
To date, the Roundtable has provided support for hundreds of state and regional economic development promotional activities resulting in over 500 corporate investments throughout Oklahoma.
The Roundtable’s Mission is to:
- Encourage and promote the states economic development.
- Promote new business investment throughout Oklahoma, including start-up, expansion and attraction of business facilities and operations.
- Provide financial support for receptions, meetings, seminars, targeted research studies, trade and investment missions and other domestic and global promotion activities that are essential to Oklahomas growth and development.
- Help share the cost of recruitment and prospect travel and associated proposal development.
- Coordinate development efforts with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the statewide private-sector Governors Economic Development Team and Governors International Team.
History of the Roundtable
The Oklahoma Business Roundtable traces its roots to business recruitment support efforts initiated by several Oklahoma Governors. In the 1980s Governor George Nigh created a private sector compact to assist with economic development promotion funding. Then, Governor Henry Bellmon formed an organization of Oklahoma CEOs, to serve in an economic development advisory capacity. The Roundtable was formally incorporated in 1991 during Governor David Walters’ administration with 12 charter members. Governors Frank Keating and Brad Henry have also played an integral role in building the organization. Current membership is 112.
Oklahoma Business Roundtable Annual Report (PDF)