Pictured from left: Chancellor Allison Garrett; RSU Alumni Director and Claremore Main Street Board Member Travis Peck; Jason Garrison; Main Street Chairman Kyle Clifton; Main Street Board member Caitlyn Ngare.
The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education has recognized a partnership between Rogers State University and Claremore Main Street that promotes working and living in Claremore after graduation.
Both entities were presented with The Regents Business Partnership Excellence Award on March 9. The award is designed to highlight successful partnerships and to further cultivate higher learning environments through State Regents’ Economic Development Grants.
“Our colleges and universities continue to collaborate successfully with public, private and nonprofit partners to strengthen economic and workforce development across our state,” Chancellor Allison D. Garrett said. “The State Regents and I are proud to celebrate the positive impact of these partnerships as we all work together to build the skilled workforce required to make Oklahoma competitive on a global stage.”
With a focus on economic vitality, historic preservation and placemaking, the organization strives to secure downtown as the social and economic core of the community. The partnership between RSU and Claremore Main Street is one of 26 business and higher education partnerships the regents recognized this year.
“This partnership with Claremore fits perfectly into the university’s mission to provide a more highly educated workforce and enhance the economic development of our region,” RSU President Dr. Larry Rice said.
Each fall, Main Street and RSU partner for Food Truck Thursday, a main kickoff event for the academic year. Students and community residents gather downtown for an evening of food, music, games and events. During homecoming, Main Street hosts a Paint the Town Blue event as businesses invite RSU groups to paint business windows with homecoming themes. Additionally, Main Street has purchased RSU flags to hang on light posts downtown.
Claremore Main Street has created a welcoming environment for RSU students resulting in many graduates remaining in town after graduation.