An Interview with Carol Ervin, President and CEO of the Ada Jobs Foundation
On October 21st, Carol Ervin joined the Ada Jobs Foundation as their new President and CEO. Ervin, who has already done great things in Atoka, Bartlesville, and McAlester, is excited to bring her wealth of economic development experience to Ada. I had a chance to sit down with her and learn more about her journey, passions, and vision for the future of Ada.
So, Carol, what led you to economic development?
I have always been heavily involved in my community, whether it was my hometown of Wagoner or my neighborhood in Houston, but it was actually Atoka Main Street in 2009 that got me into economic development. Originally, my background was finance and accounting, and I had run a successful statewide dealership for exercise equipment with my husband, Russell, after moving to Atoka from Houston. We even outfitted the Recreation and Wellness Center for OBU. But then Russell died in 2007, and while I ran the company by myself for a couple of years, I needed a new direction. That’s when a friend of mine suggested that I apply to be Main Street Director of Atoka.
What appealed to you most about working with Atoka Main Street?
I had the chance to help a lot of businesses succeed and that drove a lot of economic development. It was great to get to know the business owners and help them realize their dreams. But even though I loved it, the position was only part-time. So, when a full-time Main Street Director position opened in McAlester, I seized the opportunity. We were so successful in that endeavor that I was nominated as one of the top three Main Street directors in the state.
So after Atoka, you went to McAlester. How did you end up back in Atoka?
Well, actually, before coming back to Atoka, I went to Bartlesville and did TIF development there.
Could you explain what TIF development is?
Sure. TIF stands for Tax Increment Financing. It is essentially a way for a community to use future property tax revenue to fund community improvement projects. It can be a very helpful strategy for economic development.
And so that is what you focused on in Bartlesville after your success in McAlester?
Yes. It was a great experience to have, especially when the Economic Development Director position became available in Atoka in 2017. I had the chance to bring all that I had learned through education, certifications, and experience to the town that originally brought me to economic development. I had the chance to work with industries, retail, downtown development, as well as TIF management.
What successes did you have when you returned to Atoka?
By 2018 we started working on downtown redevelopment. We established a TIF district, purchased some dilapidated properties, had community meetings to get input on the downtown, and then came up with a ten-year plan for redevelopment. But that ten-year plan shrunk to a two-year plan when we pitched the idea of Reba’s to Reba.
That has been a real accomplishment! I have had the chance to go there and it is really great. Was that a difficult deal to make?
It all came together thanks to great collaboration between the City of Atoka, the Choctaw Nation, and, of course, Reba McEntire herself. Reba and the Choctaw Nation are actually 50-50 partners in this venture and this is the first time that anything like this has ever happened. It is estimated that Reba’s will have a 20-million-dollar impact in the community of Atoka.
So, after all that success in Atoka, why did you decide to leave?
Atoka was there for me when I really needed them, but it felt like I had fulfilled my obligation to them. I wanted a bigger community and a bigger challenge, and I am very excited about the possibilities in Ada.
What do you find most exciting about being in Ada?
Oh, the direction that the city is going in is very exciting. We are on the cusp of amazing things and the team that is assembled to take Ada to that next level is the perfect team for Ada. In between the city management, the city council, Ada Jobs Foundation, and other community partners, I think we are going to see some amazing success with everybody working together. I do believe strongly in a team concept because that is what gets things all the way across the finish line. When you take the egos out, then things get accomplished.
What is your favorite thing about economic development?
That’s easy. It’s the economic multiplier.
The economic multiplier?
Yes. So, let’s say an industry comes in and they have 35 new jobs, paying $35,000 each. Well, that’s a million dollars in payroll. That payroll turns over 1.5 times. So, you have people who have new jobs but they are also out there spending money on gas, clothes, cars, new goods and services—all you need is one big win and it impacts the whole town. And we need more wins, especially in rural communities.
How so?
Kids should be able to graduate high school, go to a trade school or college, and then enter the work force and be able to make enough money in their hometown to live, have a family, and a home. That can only be accomplished by expanding their opportunities.
Is there anything else you would like to say to our readers?
Just that I am really enjoying Ada. Everyone I have met has been very welcoming and excited about the new energy. Even though we aren’t a huge town we have a lot of the amenities of a much larger community and this can position us to further grow our quality of life as well as our economy.