Economic Development
Economic Development is the opportunity for a community to tell its story, which we are still writing.
This is our story.
A railroad line and agriculture gave Stilwell its start down the road to sustainability and economic development. In 1895 Kansas City Southern came through Indian Territory, our section now known as Stilwell, Oklahoma, to eventually connect Kansas City to the Gulf of Mexico.
The KCS Depot still stands as a landmark and tribute to our past. Today it serves at the home of the Adair County Historical and Genealogical Association, which has a revolving history museum on site. It is also home
to the Stilwell Area Chamber of Commerce, hosting monthly meetings the first Thursday of each month at noon. We’ve come a long way from Stilwell Foods selling frozen strawberries.
Global manufacturing companies such as Mrs. Smith’s Pies/ Schwan’s, Cherokee Nation Industries, Mountain View Meats and Facet are strong business partners with Stilwell.
Today we continue with revitalization strategies as we employ long range economic development planning, focusing on market understanding, better policies, and utilizing stakeholders input to determine goals to create positive change. Northeast Oklahoma Regional Alliance (NORA) has shown us opportunities through recognizing and establishing regional partners. Our partner, Heartland Advanced Medical Manufacturing Regional Cluster (HAMMRC), is working to bring medical manufacturing businesses to the region of northeast Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas, with the idea, “Where small towns meet Big Opportunities.” The HAMMRC mission is to actively working to attract, develop, and retain a professional healthcare manufacturing presence in the Northwest Arkansas and Northeast Oklahoma region with the primary objective of developing this region into one of the top 20 healthcare destinations in the world.
Supporting small businesses and industry partnerships are essential in maintaining and enhancing professional relationships, tracking growth for strategic planning, future development and attracting and retaining new business. Utilizing resources helps drive economic development through activities and projects that provide a strong foundation for future growth and help create and retain good paying jobs.
Our goal is to spark economic growth, strengthen our current business climate and local business and industry partnerships, and improve our appeal to new business, both local and international.
In an interview with former Stilwell Economic Development Director Shelldon Miggletto, he shares his vision for growing Stilwell and how to change the image some have of the community.
Stilwell has to change the way the rest of the world perceives it, said a local official who is ready to lead the charge.
“It’s up to us to write our story, to tell the world who we are,” said Shelldon Miggletto, director of Economic Development for both the City of Stilwell and the Stilwell Utility Authority.
Before taking this position, he was city clerk-treasurer from 2007-2016. Since then, he has focused on grant writing, primarily for Stilwell Utilities, Adair County and the City of Tahlequah. He was also auditor for Robert St. Pierre, CPA, until January 2020.
His experience as a grant writer and auditor have given Miggletto an opportunity to learn many facets of city operations, from day-to-day management of cities and towns, utility infrastructure financing and funding projects. This will be beneficial to moving the local economy forward, he said.
“I am excited. I was somewhat surprised when the city and utility decided to create and advertise for a position dedicated to economic development,” he said.
Historically, Stilwell has been reactionary to economic development, he said.
“We have waited for economic development to come to town, instead of pursuing opportunities. Some of us have worked on economic development in a voluntary capacity, so I am excited to see what we can do when we try to sell Stilwell in a deliberate and intentional manner,” Miggletto said.
His focus is on bringing resources to town.
“There are business owners and would-be business owners who need support to take the next step, which they can accomplish utilizing technical assistance for business planning, financing and marketing,” he said.
His role is dual-purposed.
“I will support city and utility projects by understanding how to help support these projects and help them to succeed, writing grants for projects, and if necessary, help manage those projects,” he said.
The second part of his job will be to help create an atmosphere for business retention and expansion, new job creation and retail development.
“Creating a pro-business culture and marketing Stilwell will be a big part of that mission,” he said.
He has an office at City Hall, but doesn't spend a lot of time there.
“I have been working on meeting with business owners, community leaders and potential investors in Stilwell,” he said. “I told the City Council when I was hired that the economic development portion of my job is a lot like fishing. You do a lot more casting into the water than reeling in a catch. There is no magic formula or recipe to grow the economy, especially in a post-pandemic business environment."
There is extreme value in a business retention and expansion program, Miggletto said.
“It is easier to grow and support the businesses we already have than to try to attract new ones. The pandemic is changing the face of retail. I think there is opportunity, but its real early to tell what that might be,” he said.
Looking down the road 10 to 25 years, he doesn't envision Stilwell as a large city.
“I would rather us be an economically stable and safe community. Quality jobs and affordable living is where I would like to aim. I would like to see an investment in new housing inside the city limits. We have some big lots with established trees that need redevelopment,” he said.
He thinks Stilwell and Adair County need to grow "a vision of possible."
"I think Fletcher Park is a prime example of the possible. It has absolutely blown people away that we built this caliber of park in Stilwell and that we raised more than $250,000 in less about 90 days,” he said.
He has met with economic developers from Tahlequah and Miami at the park, and they are impressed and envious, he said.
“Going forward, we need to share a common vision of what we want to see our community become. This doesn't have to be big-box stores or big-ticket projects,” he said.
It can be simple beautification projects or community organized events.
“We need to give the younger generation a reason to stay in Stilwell or come back after higher education. We need to attract working professionals, entrepreneurs and retirees to live in our community. They all play a vital role in our local economy,” he said. “I think the main obstacle for our county is perception. Stories like the, ‘Death Capital of the U.S,’ are hard to overcome. That is just one example of perception."
Another challenge that is not unique to Stilwell or Adair County, but nationwide, is workforce.
“We need all manner of workforce to meet demands. Technical trade skills, manufacturing, healthcare, college education and agriculture all have a relevant place in prospering a community and are all necessary to grow the economy. Without population and adequate workforce, it is hard to grow the economy,” he said.
Miggletto has been married to his wife, Dusty, for more than 25 years. Son Jake is a freshman at Oklahoma State University, and daughter Carter is an eighth-grader at Westville Schools, where Dusty is a high school counselor.
Something about him not everyone knows is that he loves Sooner football and NASCAR.
“I am a classic car enthusiast. I have a 66 Chevelle convertible, which was my dream car for 21 years before I was able to buy it. I have about five or six more on my wish list," he said.
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Contact information
City of Stilwell, Oklahoma
Address: 20 S. 1st St., Stilwell, OK 74960
Phone:
918-696-7143
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