By M. Scott Carter
The Journal Record
Posted: 09:49 PM Tuesday, August 17, 2010
NORMAN – Oklahoma’s relationship with the Native American tribes inside its borders coupled with tribal economic development efforts helped insulate the state from the recession, a panel of experts said Tuesday.
“I don’t believe Oklahoma would prosper without the tribal nations,” said state Commerce and Tourism Secretary Natalie Shirley. “Tribal nations are vital to Oklahoma.”
Speaking at a morning presentation at the Indian Country Business Summit, Shirley said tribal economic development efforts were one of the reasons Oklahoma’s economy didn’t suffer as much as the rest of the nation.
“About three or four years ago we took a look at what was happening on the coast and knew that it would roll inward,” she said. “We knew that Oklahoma, itself, would begin to struggle.”
To fight those problems, Shirley said Commerce officials and state lawmakers developed an incentive package for business and industry... FULL ARTICLE
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Tue, August 17, 2010
by Crystal Drwenski