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Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett on how the city manages to have such a low unemployment rate.
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-- before the break we showed you some of the largest cities with the lowest unemployment rate but who takes the top spots.
Here the number five Austin, Texas with a six point 4% unemployment rate.
Boston a number four with six point.
19%.
Then you -- Minneapolis number three with five point 9% number two OK I say it's 'cause of all the lobbyists who make so much money.
Washington DC five point 6% finally hold it hold it wait for -- the best employment rates.
Four point 8%.
Oklahoma City -- Oklahoma.
So guess what live from Washington DC in a Fox Business Network exclusive news -- of Oklahoma City.
Mitt Cornett -- a big smile there and we weren't -- -- said you know your peers.
Are both amazed and totally jealous how are you doing it in Oklahoma City.
Well I ironically I think our citizens would rather be number one in college football but we have the number one on the jobs up front man for six months now -- pretty much the last three or four years.
We've invested heavily in our infrastructure we've invested in the market sectors like aviation.
Bio medical field our tourism numbers are going through the rough and of course the energy sector is our strongest.
Part of the economy and it's it's going Walter.
We'll get to the private sector a piece of this in just a minute but you said we've invested heavily -- does the government OK now you -- Republican but you would figured out a way to spend a Citi money to really make -- pay off right I mean and I'm sure there's some push back from people who say stop the government spending.
But how did you figure out a way to make it actually pay off with such a good unemployment rate and of course job creation.
I'm in my third term and the sales tax rate the property tax -- the same as when I entered and office but we spent a billion dollars on our own infrastructure.
Quality of life amenities were able to attract those highly educated twenty somethings that are looking for places to live.
That's fueling the economy job creators -- entrepreneur lowers.
The Kauffman Foundation -- -- the most onto funeral city in the country with the most start -- per capita.
And the Census Bureau shows that you have more people moving from California to Oklahoma than vice Versa.
And more people from Texas moving to Oklahoma City.
That have ever been that coming north before.
We we are on we were heard a boom time because -- ideas and they were all saying cities in Texas but but you bested them definitely and and when looking at the private sector part of it.
You do have companies like Chesapeake there -- whole bunch of others Entegris help Tinker Air Force Base of course the government operation but.
You know the university's Oklahoma university Oklahoma State and you of course -- graduate a senator.
-- -- We have a 120000.
College students that live in our metro area and I think.
Most of those cities that appeared on your numbers with showing that the best job markets.
Do have strong.
Presentations of college students by the way an hour ago I got a call -- -- my city manager he said.
Our monthly sales tax check -- -- is the largest in city history it has 16%.
Ahead.
Of a year ago numbers that's that's pretty amazing time -- There's a case of taxes actually working in affect with the city so so is that tourism -- is that.
A stronger consumer -- can you guess that -- there.
Well I think consumer confidence is a big the big part of it because when people see construction in this construction taking place all over Oklahoma City.
They see the people are investing in the future of the city whether it's public sector or private sector.
So consumer confidence is very high and almost sitting I think that's part -- And of course it last time you and I spoke it was during the NBA lockout but that turned out wonderfully but -- got all the way to the finals congratulations.
Thank you were very proud of the team and anxious for the season to start with think we're gonna go all the way this.
You know Shibani Joshi one of our -- she's from Oklahoma boy -- -- excited so -- -- And thank you so much -- congratulations it's a good example to follow for everybody else.
Always good to be with you Mick Cornett -- mayor of Oklahoma City the closing bell ringing in exactly fifteen minutes we're just a few minutes away from closing up the first trading week of September.
