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The Oklahoma Department of Commerce recently launched a website dedicated to the agency's Boomerang campaign, an initiative to attract highly-skilled workers and bring talented former Oklahomans back home. The website is www.okboomerang.com.
Natalie Shirley, Secretary of Commerce and Tourism, said the Boomerang campaign, along with the website, is designed to recruit one of the state's greatest assets: home-grown talented Oklahomans.
''We want to attract highly-skilled professionals back to Oklahoma to fill high-quality, knowledge-based jobs. Expatriate talent can absolutely bolster key industries in our state,'' Shirley said. ''We must use every tool available to find these folks, including an informative and engaging website.''
Sheri Stickley, Commerce Deputy Director for Strategic Planning & Initiatives, said Commerce hopes the Boomerang campaign can connect Boomerang targets or former Oklahomans with employers and career opportunities across the state.
The Boomerang site features first-person testimonials, career information, job openings, housing data, and social and recreational opportunities.
Stickley said the Boomerang site is part of a multi-tiered strategy to reach potential Boomerangers via the Internet. Besides okboomerang.com, Oklahoma's Boomerang campaign can be found through social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Ning. Commerce also plans to use traditional marketing techniques such as targeted direct mail campaigns.
Boomerang focuses on two distinct groups of former Oklahomans: 25- to 45-year-olds, young professionals often referred to as Millennials and Gen-Xers; and 45- to 60-year-olds, Baby Boomers who likely have extensive executive experience and are now looking at second careers as entrepreneurs.
''Anything that leverages Oklahoma as a place to live, raise a family, and develop a career is worth exploring,'' Stickley said. ''We are working diligently to establish partnerships with state universities and their alumni associations, partnerships with employers who have positions open, and partnerships with recruiting firms who are looking for employees.''
Commerce Department representatives, including both Shirley and Stickley, will travel to Phoenix this weekend to recruit University of Oklahoma graduates. OU officials said Phoenix represents one of the largest pockets of migrated OU alums. Commerce officials will join the local alumni chapter in Phoenix as it gathers to watch the OU-University of Texas football game. Commerce is planning events and mailings with Oklahoma State and Oklahoma City University as well.
Shirley said the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, as the lead economic development agency in Oklahoma, is constantly working to find creative ways to retain and attract a highly-skilled workforce.
She said efforts such as the Boomerang campaign allow ex-pats a chance to reconnect with family and friends; a chance to enjoy a higher standard of life, where dollars go further and housing is cheaper; and a chance to be a part of Oklahoma's exciting future.
Shirley said Oklahoma's key selling points are:
Immediate access to high-paying jobs;
Low cost of living;
Competitive business costs and a dedication to helping small businesses get their start (for those entrepreneurs in the mix);
Strong housing market;
''Recession-proof'' cities;
Fourth lowest tax burden in the nation;
Easy access to affordable training and education;
Some of the shortest commutes;
Vibrant, progressive communities.