Durant Economic Development Director Kathy Moore spoke during last week’s city council meeting to update the council on the economic situation in the community.
Moore is also director of the Durant Industrial Authority and she was began her duties in January. She is a north Texas native and is quickly learning about Durant and its history.
She radiated excitement and enthusiasm when speaking on how much she has learned about Durant during her time here.
Moore said it is a good day to be in Durant and she spoke of small businesses in the community. She said she learned that from 2018-2023, Bryan County had an increase of $20 million in retail sales.
She told the council that small business generates 44 percent of all U.S. economic activity.
“So, the effort of our small businesses in Durant are significant and in my area, I have a priority for a commitment to revitalization of our downtown business district and collaborative efforts for strengthening the district,” Moore said. “But I will say, with that data point that I just shared, it’s not just my office that accomplishes that. There are hundreds in Durant that invest in small business and in our community, and specifically downtown. I would like to put some first names out there. I would like to say thank you to our investors who have made a commitment beyond what some of us could ever imagine.
She named many business owners who are doing their part in the economic growth of Durant.
“Specifically tonight though, I would like to talk about Price’s Print- ing and their investment in small business in the city of Durant,” Moore said. “I’ve learned that the Allens (Chris and Shelley) are the third owners of this business and they’ve (Price’s Printing) been here since 1957.”
Moore spoke of a dedicated employee of Price’s Printing and how loyal employees contribute to the small business community.
“I’d like to introduce you to somebody that you might not ever have known but I promise you, she’s made a difference,” Moore said. “Her name is Lawana Coxsey and she has served safely at Price’s Printing for 38 years and so our community not only depends on the small businesses and the families that invest in our community, but it’s people like Lawana that show up and believe in Durant and are faithful. So, we are grateful because these are the people that build our community and this is the fabric of Durant.”
She also spoke of the Durant Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet when plans were announced to revitalize the old Plaza Movie Theater on North Third Avenue in the downtown.
“In addition, I would like to point out that at the chamber banquet this past spring, there was the launch of the Plaza project,” Moore said. “On the stage in the announcement of that project and the revitalization of our theater for our downtown business district, we had Imagine Durant, The Boys & Girls Club, Choctaw Nation, Bryan County, Southeastern, the chamber and the City of Durant all supporting the revitalization of our downtown through that project. I would just like to say that is so remarkable and I’m really proud to be a part of this community.”
Moore also talked about the Durant Industrial Authority.
“A data point for you is when you look at 2010 to 2020 and you look south of the border, the rapid growth in Collin County and in Grayson County, those counties grew at an 18 percent rate over those 10 years,” Moore said. “But, Bryan County was at a 16 percent rate and often times, you look around and it doesn’t feel like growth is happening here. But, I want to encourage you, that’s only because we are still rural and a two percent difference over 10 years is not that different, specifically now, we can look at 2024 and in the first half of 2024, quarter to end, Collin County grew at a three percent rate and Bryan County is almost at a two percent rate. So even still, we’re very close to what’s happening with the growth that’s coming this direction.”
Moore said that the Oklahoma Department of Commerce determined there is a positive benefit associated with the Allied Stone expansion.
“For that reason, Allied Stone here in Durant was awarded an incentive grant through the Oklahoma Business Expansion Incentive Program and that’s to be commended,” Moore said.
The Department of Commerce also recognized BrucePac where Potter’s Sausage was originally founded 75 years ago.
“They have completed their expansion project and if you’ve not walked through that facility please do,” Moore said. “I can help you do that and it’s pretty amazing, I’m very proud to be a part of Durant.”
She said that her priority is to advocate for infrastructure support by networking and telling Durant’s story. There are many ways to tell Durant’s story and Moore said one is the public art in the community that tells a very proud story of Durant.
“Specifically, for Janie Semple Umsted,” Moore said. “Economic development through the City of Durant has supported other community efforts and we’re working on a landscape plan to finish her sculpture that’s up at Carl Albert Drive north of town and the reason this is really important for the future of Durant is because that’s our entrance way.
“If you’re coming in from the north, what do you see? It’s that sculpture and the story it tells about Durant makes a difference and we should all be very proud about that. Specifically, I would like to comment on Janie and how she has shown up for the City of Durant over the past decades.
“I believe that Janie is a hometown hero and what I would like for you to know and the community to know is that most recently, she was appointed by President Biden to the Board of Trustees for the Institute of American Indian Arts and this is in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I’m so proud to be a part of Durant.
“How we tell our stories make a difference. For those of us here now and for those of us who will be here in the future, it matters. So for Janie, I would like to publicly say thank you so much for how you tell our story. But to the council, thank you for showing up, for volunteering, for being here. For those of us on our boards, our commissions and hundreds others across our community, how you volunteer and where you volunteer makes a difference and you make us proud.”
Moore spoke of how things such as opening the door for someone or pausing at a stop sign to let someone go ahead of you make a difference in the community.
“You’re in the grocery store and you notice somebody that maybe really needed to be seen that day and you say, ‘Hello, how are you?’ And you listen,” Moore said. “That’s part of telling the story of who we are in Durant because that’s part of our community and we’re community strong. I’m very proud to be a part of Durant and finally, it’s a great day to be in Durant.”
