investments to only these few most urgently needed project areas. A brief summary of projects financed to date reveals some interesting and very productive results as follows: 1. VOCATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING Six multi-county Vo-Tech Schools have been approved at a total cost of $11,722,527. Ozarks furnished $2,391,185 of the funds without which the schools could not have been built. In addition a portion of these funds created an equipment pool to initiate a "special" schools training program for industry needs in the entire region area. Four of the area schools opened in September of 1970 and in December had a total of 3,052 persons being trained. About 60 percent of the trainees are adults training for new or upgraded skills in industry. The balance are secondary students acquiring Vo-Tech skills needed in their areas. The two schools not yet completed will have a training capacity of about 1,800 students. The "special" schools program mentioned above utilizes the Ozarks equipment pool in "special" training for industry and after two years of operation has completed or is engaged in training nearly 2,000 persons for jobs in industry. 2. INDUSTRIAL PARKS AND SITES The part of the region in Oklahoma has small rural cities which have difficulty furnishing many basic utilities needed for domestic requirements and services. Since attracting industry requires more elaborate and expensive waste treatment, water and other facilities, we have used Ozarks appropriations to supply the needed funds which cannot be furnished locally to develop industry in rural Oklahoma communities so that they can physically serve the needs of industrial growth. Fifteen such projects have been approved to date representing $10,672,414 of site and utility development. Ozarks has participated in these projects with supplemental grants of $1,735,054 of the total which otherwise could not have been obtained. These projects have thus far resulted in new plant investments of over $170,000,000 with projected additional employment for the region of at least 3,800. 3. AIRPORTS IN RURAL AREAS One of the documented needs for developing our region is to have an adequate airport system in rural areas. With the financial difficulties these towns experience, airports are extremely hard to finance. To date Ozarks has helped build or improve four airports in potential rural growth areas. The total cost of these projects has been $1,321,130 with Ozarks furnishing $278,264 of the total. We have only had sufficient funds to help finance about one out of four of the needed airport projects. In the four years of Ozarks Regional appopriations, we have been able to use $4,404,503 of Ozarks funds to implement $23,716,071 of Vo-Tech industrial park and airport projects which have directly resulted in nearly 4,000 new jobs and created a capacity to train for industry jobs over 4,000 persons annually in Vo-Tech and special schools. These benefits to our rural region have been a significant part of our state growth. The Commission's federal-state-local partnership has been extremely effective in relationship to the investment funds available. It has demonstrated that it has an ability to effect regional improvement and development of the economy. If the region is to realize the growth needed to develop totally to close the "income gap" that presently exists with the national economy, it must receive an appropriation that is significantly greater than the "token" appropriations of the past four years. We must be able to extend the Commission activities into helping improve health facilities and services, recreation and tourism development, transportation, water supplies, environmental enhancement, housing, education and conservation as well as increase the development level for industrial sites, skill training and rural airports. Our present investment planning in cooperation with the Regional Commission had identified an immediate need for over $67,000,000 of projects vital to the economic development of the Oklahoma part of the region. When this minimal need is compared to the $4.4 million of Commission investment in the state for the past four years, it is obvious that at least a two year extension and a greatly increased funding level for the Commission programs is both required and well justified. The business of the Ozarks Regional Commission is to develop itself out of business. We are working toward that goal. I am confident that the success we measure now is a real indicator of achieving that end. We cannot, however, expect growth and prosperity if we fail to recognize that this is only the beginning. We must provide long-range solution. That is what we are doing in Oklahoma through tax reform and emphasis on education. The resulting new state income is at a high price from an already over-burdened people. But the courageous Oklahoma Legislature and our people know the only hope is to sacrifice for education, institutions, and industries. But we can't solve the problems of unemployment—or the suffering of a hungry stomach today-without some immediate solutions. The Ozarks Regional Commission offers that help. Our results to date illustrate the promise for tomorrow. The Ozarks region of Oklahoma, which represents primarily rural areas, experienced 30.5% outmigration from 1940 to 1960 and 13.1% outmigration from 1950 to 1960. Yet the population loss trend was reversed to a 5.2% gain-with 51% of the gain noted from 1967 to 1970. This population shift reversal certainly can be related to a change in economic opportunity climate and increased jobs. The Ozarks investments have sufficiently improved the climate in the region to have significantly contributed to the population gains. From 1967 to 1970 the Ozarks region of Oklahoma had a 9,102 gain in total labor force and a 3,244 gain in persons unemployed. The unemployment rate increased from 6.8% to 7.8% or 14.7% unemployment increase while the rest of the nation was suffering through a 24.4% unemployment increase. Yet, the Ozarks region of Oklahoma has 27.9% of the population-220,813 people-on welfare. This is an immediate problem we must solve with jobs. On the brighter side, per capita income in 1967 in the Ozarks region was $1,622 but had reached $2,059, a 26.8% increase by 1970. This compares to a national increase of 23% over the same period of time. By any standard, this is a poverty area: the people are poor. But, we are at a point where this can be changed. We are reforming our taxes and improving education. Economic development, bolstered by the Ozarks Commission, is in the "take off" stage. The Ozarks Regional development philosophy is sound. It is a proven, working reality of federal and state cooperation. It has inspired local communities and participating states to challenge our own problems with solutions nurtured on the scene of poverty and need. The foundation is laid for a revolution of prosperity. We must forge ahead with renewed vigor and determination. This is a cause and an investment which open a great new frontier for all America. History will grade the 92nd Congress and our generation for our commitment to realizing this need and dream. Thank you. OKLAHOMA LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS THAT RELATE TO DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL COMMISSION PROGRAMS 1. STATE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT The State Legislature currently has approved $85,000 for Oklahoma's contribution to the administrative cost of operation of the Ozarks Regional Commission. 2. STATE AERONAUTICAL COMMISSION The Oklahoma Legislature funds a program to help local communities pay up to 25% of the cost of airport construction. The current fiscal year appropriation is $240,000 which is often used with Ozarks funds. 3. HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT-INDUSTRIAL ROAD PROGRAM The Highway Department has appropriated and earmarked for access roads to industrial parks and sites a current level of $1,000,000 per year of funds. This program has supplemented Ozarks grants very effectively. 4. STATE DEPARTMENT OF VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL EDUCATION The Ozarks "special" schools program operating in Oklahoma is complemented by a legislative appropriation of over $1,000,000 for special industry training and equipment. 5. INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND PARKS DEPARTMENT $120,000 per year is provided by the Legislature for 50% matching funds for promoting multi-county industrial and tourism promotion on a regional basis. OZARKS REGION-OKLAHOMA ECONOMIC INDICATORS I. POPULATION In 1960, total population of Oklahoma counties belonging to the Ozarks region was 752,000. Between 1960 and 1970, the population grew to 791,000, an increase of 5.2 percent. Of these 37 counties, 23 gained in population while 14 lost. This very important fact should be emphasized. Between 1950 and 1960, all 37 counties realized a negative population growth. That is, all of them lost population. It seems very clear that this trend has been reversed. II. INCOME During the period 1960-1970, 15 counties in Oklahoma have realized an increase in per capita income of 100 to 177 percent. All these counties were classified as Ozarks region counties. In the group of 37 highest gaining counties (80 percent and above), 29 belonged to the Ozarks area. In the same period, the average increase in per capita income in Oklahoma was 84.9 percent. Out of 27 counties that realized an above average increase, 24 were Ozarks region counties. III. EMPLOYMENT In 1970, total employment in the Oklahoma Ozarks area amounted to 215,175. This figure represents an increase of 2.43 percent over the 1967 figures. In the 3 year period, employment in the region grew by 5,110. An important fact to be noted is that over 50 percent of all jobs created in this period were classified as manufacturing employment. IV. SALES TAX REVENUE Changes in sales tax revenues are indicative of changes in population, employment and hence, purchasing power. An analysis of Oklahoma's sales tax revenue for the period 1960-1970 shows that 30 counties have increased revenues by 50 to 132 percent. Out of these 30 counties, 22 belonged to the Ozarks region. In the group of 4 top gainers (100 percent or more), 3 were Ozarks counties. On the average, Oklahoma counties have increased sales tax collection for the period by 41.9 percent. 24 Ozarks counties belong to the above-average group. V. UTILITIES-SALES TAX COLLECTION Like general sales tax, changes in tax revenues from sales of utilities are indicative of economic growth in terms of population and income. These figures, however, offer an added feature because they are also indicative of changes in industrial activities. Figures published by the Oklahoma Tax Commission show that in the period 1960-1970, 13 counties have more than doubled their sales tax collections on utilities. Out of these 13 counties, 10 were classified as Ozarks Region counties. The average increase for the state in this tax collection category was 75.7 percent. 30 counties belonged in the above-average group. 16 counties in this group are located in the Ozarks area. |