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The Relative E’s (and Ease) of Edmond Living
Expanding. Educated. Energetic. Enterprising. Exceptional.
All positive and all descriptive of the community we call home – Edmond, Oklahoma. As a chamber it is part of our responsibility to help ensure that people are aware of the positive attributes of our community, and to work daily to be the voice for business. It is our Chamber’s mission to enhance economic opportunities and quality of life in Edmond.
 During 2008, the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce hosted an average of four ribbon cutting and groundbreaking ceremonies per week. Few communities in Oklahoma and only a handful across the country enjoy such pace. Those ceremonies represent retail, manufacturing, health care, professional and technology business sectors, among others.
Of course, there is much more. According to the Edmond Economic Development Authority, total taxable sales in Edmond were nearly $1.3 billion in 2007, an increase of 35 percent over the last five years.
Our cost-of-living is below the national average; our average household income is well above the metropolitan, state and national averages; and according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Edmond has one of the lowest crime rates of any city in the state with a population of more than 10,000 people.
More than 52 percent of Edmond residents, age 25 and older possess at least a bachelor’s degree. That average surpasses notable communities including Austin, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; Boston, Massachusetts; and Seattle, Washington.
Our young people make educational headlines as well. Edmond Public High Schools’ 2007 ACT scores were eight percent above  the national average. SAT scores were 13.6 percent above the national average.
Higher and continuing education and workforce development opportunities are available to our residents as well. The University of Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma Christian University, and Francis Tuttle Technology Center provide exceptional services, and are renowned in their classifications as outstanding centers of learning.
Edmond’s mayor, City Council and other city officials undertake aggressive projects to help meet and exceed the demands of our residents. Projects such as downtown streetscape/way-finding improvements, Festival Marketplace, Cross Timbers Municipal Complex, trolleys, public art, trails, new parks, traffic studies, growth management plans, and many others are either recently completed, underway or in early planning stages.
Partnerships such as the Guthrie/Edmond Regional Airport and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation’s partnership with UCO’s Master’s Degree in Forensics Sciences; the Edmond Public Schools Pre-Engineering Academy through Francis Tuttle; and Oklahoma Christian’s Accelerated MBA Program for working professionals illustrate efforts to create more opportunity for area residents. Other innovative partnerships are occurring among entities as varied as Edmond Medical Center, Edmond Electric, the City of Edmond, and the Edmond Fine Arts Institute.
While our community has long outgrown its label as a bedroom community, Edmond certainly realizes measurable success from the economic growth of Oklahoma City and the greater metropolitan area. It is no secret Edmond is widely considered a top-tier place to live in surveys conducted at local and national levels. In 2006 and 2007, RelocateAmerica.com listed Edmond as one of the Top 100 Best Places in America to Live.
All of these factors come together to help create an outstanding quality of life. Edmond works hard to create economic opportunity, yet it also attempts to maintain its hometown charm. Our residents take part in a municipal process that encourages participation.
 We are willing to speak out and come together to support our community. We Edmondites expect excellent education; safe streets; nice neighborhoods; and accessible shopping, dining and recreation. We show willingness to support these endeavors with our time, participation and dollars.
Expanding, educated, energetic, enterprising and exceptional. These are some of the E’s (and ease) of living and working in Edmond. Edmond’s is a lifestyle to be envied.
We invite you to experience the energy of Edmond firsthand. Shop, dine, learn, live, work and relax in one of America’s best places to live – our hometown – Edmond, Oklahoma.
Source: Demographic and statistical data compiled by the Edmond Economic Development Authority
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