Macy's Breaks Ground On Owasso Fulfillment Center

Macy's broke ground Thursday on a big investment in north Tulsa County. From there, the department store giant will fill on-line orders from around the country.

The Chamber said the new home of Macy's is equivalent to 60 football fields. The Owasso site was selected over 150 other options in four states.

12/17/2013 Related Story: Macy's To Build Order Fulfillment Center In Owasso

Politicians are excited because this time next year the dirt field will be a state of the art facility.

It took months of planning, with multiple agencies, but after many meetings and proposals, the labor of love was worth the wait. Thursday's groundbreaking of a giant Macy's distribution center began with a blessing and well played humor.

"I just love anything where we can beat out Texas," joked Senator Jim Inhofe.

Nearly 72 acres will be morphed into what Macy's calls a major fulfillment center. Governor Mary Fallin said the company's $170 million investment puts Owasso on the map.

Macy's President, Peter Longo, said, "This is smack in the middle of the network where we need to be geographically. The embracement of the community has been absolutely remarkable. The land is available, the interstate highways. Perhaps what most important is the availability of such incredible labor."

Principal Chief Bill John Baker said he will offer Macy's training dollars if it hires Cherokee citizens and everyone is counting how much money Macy's will bring to the local economy.

"The Cherokee Nation was fortunate to play a role landing 1000 jobs in Northeast Oklahoma that are surely needed," said Baker.

Tulsa Chamber CEO Mike Neal, said, "This is going to be the largest economic development project that has come to Northeast Oklahoma in over ten years."

Construction should wrap up in a year and most folks can't wait.

"I was sitting there thinking, ‘do I have my Macy's charge card in my purse?' You guys weren't thinking that, but the girls might have been thinking that here today," Fallin said.

The facility is expected to open in May of next year. Macy's will need to hire more than a 1,000 full time and seasonal jobs. They will begin accepting applications next April.