"In addition to Oklahoma's cost-friendly status, the state offers a myriad of incentives to help you achieve your most productive bottom line. Tax exemptions, refunds, credits and exclusions all represent money in your corporate pocket. The establishment of both Enterprise Zones and an Empowerment Zone, support for transportation and distribution, and financing assistance are all reasons to take a closer look at Oklahoma City.

One of the most powerful incentives in Oklahoma is also one of the most recognized in the nation: the Quality Jobs Program. This program provides cash payments to qualifying companies who create and maintain quality jobs in Oklahoma. Payments are for up to five percent of payroll for up to 10 years. "

So if you can save up to $8 million in five years for a 100-employee operation, how much can you save for an 11,000-employee operation, such as the previously mentioned Lockheed Martin facility? We can't absolutely answer that since we have not done any case studies focusing on deals that large. But it's safe to say that after five years, Lockheed Martin would easily save hundreds of millions (about $300 to $400M in our estimation) if that large facility was operating in the South as opposed to Colorado.

Add to those hundreds of millions about $100 million in incentives a relocation of that size might garner and you're looking right at half-a-billion dollars. Would you move your large plant from California, Washington, Colorado, Illinois or the Northeast to the South for $500 million?

Now you see why, in 2003, there are some whopper relocations going down in the American South. If you want to cut costs, move to the South.