A couple of good business stories for Tulsa

[Renaissance]

Oneok buys its headquarters building:

http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?articleID=20080328_5_E1_spanc08765

Wind tower plant gears up:

http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?articleID=20080328_5_E1_spanc66465

These are nice signs that the economy of Tulsa is humming along, even in the face of impending recession.  First, a big and growing energy company seals its commitment to downtown Tulsa.  Second, don't we always hear complaints about call center jobs?  Here is growth in the manufacturing sector for ya--and it's in sustainable energy to boot!

[Townsend]

Huzzah.

I'd love to see more of that.

[sgrizzle]

Coincidence?
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080305_1_A1_spanc22622

1. ONG wants to charge more
2. OCC says that when they have their next rate case, they might not be able to justify the higher rate.
3. ONG (ONEOK) increases the assets on it's books and lowers petty cash.


I know, I know. I'm being a downer, but just sayin'...

[cannon_fodder]

Sq,

ONG is a small division of OneOK in perspective.  Not too mention, as a regulated utility it is more of a fixed asset than a cash cow.  Exploration and transit will buy this building.  Plus, since they had a long term lease they will probably save money - it is just a firm commitment.

MY GUESS, is they anticipate needing more space.  The building owner can just cancel a lease and free up another floor, as the primary lessor they might not be able to get the space they wanted (building owners often do not want one tenant structures, all the eggs in one basket kind of thing).

Just my guess...

IN ANY EVENT, great news.  A real commitment to down town.  Lets hope they need more office space and some of the other firms have to shop around downtown for more (and stay downtown of course).

Also glad DMI is online.  I feared for their well being when the federal subsidies looked to dry up.  Now it looks like it will eventually pass and the status quo will reign.  They appear to be good jobs for experienced welders and fabricators that are actually getting people to move to Tulsa.