Oklahoma City Is Open for Franchisors, Chamber Leader Says

Chamber of commerce representatives do not often travel to franchise expos to meet franchisors face-to-face and make the case for investing in their markets. Tammy Fate, vice president of business attraction and development for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, says that direct outreach is part of what sets her team apart as it works with companies considering — or overlooking — the Big Friendly in their expansion plans.

“It's really about the relationship. We play the long game and focus on building lasting connections,” Fate said in an interview with 1851 Franchise publisher Nick Powills. “We're on the road quite a bit working with site selection consultants, brokers and developers. I was just in Chicago two weeks ago at a food expo show, making sure we are out there being very intentional.”

Fate painted a picture of the current economic momentum that Oklahoma City is riding through 2026, with collaborative public-private projects, plans to host two events during the LA28 Olympic Games and a reputation for offering a high quality of life at a relatively low cost of doing business. The region's secret lies in its long-term commitment to investing in its own infrastructure while removing hurdles for expanding brands. 

Through Fate’s assistance, franchises breaking ground in OKC have gained access to a partner with a comprehensive suite of resources and extensive knowledge of the inner workings of the region.

“While we don't focus directly on recruiting individual franchisees, we help extensively with permitting, utilities and site selection,” Fate said. “We have an in-house research team with access to advanced mobile analytics tools that give investors complete confidence in a specific site or corridor.”

An active chamber of commerce can help expanding businesses understand a new market and connect with the people who can move a project forward. For franchisors, that may include introductions to developers, guidance on permitting and access to local data that can inform site selection. Fate’s work shows how that support can benefit both a growing brand and the community it enters.

Take a look at the success Fate’s team and Oklahoma City have seen by collaborating directly with franchise development teams on a recent episode of the “Meet the Supplier” podcast. A transcript of this interview has been provided below. It has been edited for brevity, clarity and style.

Nick Powills: All right, Tammy, lots that I want to dive into. Tell us who you are and what you do.

Tammy Fate: I'm Tammy Fate, the vice president of business attraction and development for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. I get the privilege of going out and working with companies looking at everything from relocation to expansion, telling the story of Oklahoma City and highlighting all the great things happening here.

Powills: It's a large role. Is there KPI pressure? Do you have to bring in an exact number of businesses, or how does growth pressure actually work?

Fate: It's really about the relationship. We play the long game and focus on building lasting connections. We're on the road quite a bit working with site selection consultants, brokers and developers. I was just in Chicago two weeks ago at a food expo show, making sure we are out there being very intentional.

We generate a lot of leads, and we're evaluated on how many people come into the market, how many get shortlisted and who takes a site tour of Oklahoma City. When a business chooses another market, we evaluate the hurdles, including site availability and utilities. Ultimately, it's about exposure and showcasing Oklahoma City and the region in the best light.

Powills: How important is franchising as part of your overall economic mix?

Fate: It's a huge component. While we don't focus directly on recruiting individual franchisees, we help extensively with permitting, utilities and site selection. If an operator wants to roll out 15 units in the region, we connect them to local real estate partners and resources.

We're here to tell the story, showcase why Oklahoma City is a thriving market and provide confidence through data. We have an in-house research team with access to advanced mobile analytics tools that give investors complete confidence in a specific site or corridor.

Powills: You feel like an underutilized resource for franchisors. Almost any brand outside Oklahoma City wants to expand there, but they often struggle to connect local franchisees with real estate resources and market viability data.

Fate: Right. We attend events like ICSC and Retail Live to talk about what's happening in Oklahoma City. One of our biggest selling points is our MAPS story, which stands for Metropolitan Area Projects. It's a voter-approved, one-cent pay-as-you-go sales tax that funds major civic projects without debt.

Through MAPS, we've built a 70-acre downtown park and a $45 million whitewater rafting facility that will host two Olympic events for LA 2028. We have a river that we used to mow and now we row. When investors see how much the city invests in itself, they understand our growth trajectory. We also work closely with the planning department on housing developments, providing custom density mapping so retail operators can see future rooftop growth before selecting a site.

Powills: There was a study by the American Legislative Exchange Council evaluating states on cost of living, traffic and education. When a city or state keeps the cost of living down, a franchisee's dollar stretches further, offsetting royalty and tech fees. When franchisors realize how much a city is investing to drive consumer business back into local centers, expanding to that market becomes a no-brainer. Most brands spend millions acquiring franchisees without realizing municipalities are actively helping make those locations profitable.

Fate: Exactly. Our cost of living is 13% below the national average, making it extremely affordable. We're centrally located, and our energy costs are 25% below the national average. We have a dedicated marketing team getting that story out, and when people visit, they are pleasantly surprised by our quality of life, amenities and low cost of doing business.

Powills: Are there specific retail or business wins in Oklahoma City you are most proud of?

Fate: I led destination new-to-market retail for 12 years before expanding into industrial lead generation and our western market strategy. On the retail side, we've brought in concepts like Andretti, Flix Brewhouse, Chicken N Pickle, Life Time Fitness and SCHEELS.

We also help curate master-planned, mixed-use developments. For instance, Oak is a new 27-acre mixed-use development featuring Restoration Hardware, Arhaus, Capital Grille, Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar and a Tapestry Hotel. Another project, Chisholm Creek, is a 180-acre development. When major destination concepts land here, smaller franchise groups follow because they want to cluster where family activity and synergy already exist.

Powills: A brand like Restoration Hardware doesn't build unless the demographics and financials make sense. When those major brands move in, it signals to franchisors that their franchisees have a much higher probability of outperforming system averages.

Fate: That's why we stay on the road highlighting these public-private partnerships. People don't know what they don't know, so panel discussions and national industry events give us the platform to showcase these opportunities.

Powills: If an investor or franchisor is watching this and considering Oklahoma City, what else should they know?

Fate: We are exceptionally business friendly and highly collaborative, and we act as a direct facilitator. Oklahoma City proper spans 620 square miles, but we work across a 10-county region including communities like Edmond, Norman and Midwest City.

People are often surprised by our aerospace footprint. One in 10 local employees works in aerospace, and Tinker Air Force Base is the largest employer in the state, located just 10 minutes from downtown. That creates massive growth and purchasing power across the market. As one of the largest chambers in the country, our research and marketing teams are ready to connect expanding brands with the right sites and partners.

Powills: Leveraging chamber resources gives franchisors a smarter way to target expansion and connect with local investors. Great conversation, Tammy. Thanks for sharing the Oklahoma City story.

Fate: Absolutely. I'm always happy to talk about Oklahoma City. Thanks for having me.

Watch the full interview above or on YouTube.