Resources and work opportunities needed in the city limits of Langston, Oklahoma, are underway to begin development. The Langston Planning and Economic Development Group, consisting of Mary Boyles, Charlene Meeks, Patrick Franks, Charles Membula and Diane Sims came together to make a difference amongst the Langston community.
Bringing resources to the community for the residents of Langston and the students of Langston University is their goal; a major focus is determining how the community can provide or maintain repairs.
Car troubles are one of the main issues both residents and students face in Langston. Traveling 12 miles to Guthrie, 15 miles to Perkins, or 22 miles to Stillwater every other day means a lot of tire repairs, oil changes, suspensions and other car repairs.
Boyles said, “The group was started to bring and make a change in the Langston community.”
To make that change resources must come.
“We plan to bring new businesses like a grocery store, salon/barbershop, breakfast restaurant, and computer repair to create many jobs for the community.”
With the developments underway and ideas being pushed for approval, the first two projects to begin are the Pave The Way project to pave the dirt roads south of the park and The Beautification Project to plant trees, add smart lights, and gazebos along Sammy Davis Jr. to give Langston a new look.
The group was funded $150,000 from ACOG to pave the dirt roads and $100,000 fix the water/sewer infrastructure. The group itself will receive $1.4 million to bring in resources and jobs.
“We want to make sure everything is in walking distance for the students and the community,” Boyles said.
The funding has been secured, so Diane Sims, business major and economics minor, notified the Development Group that the Young Entrepreneur Project has ideas that will benefit the Langston Planning and Economic Development Group.
“I did a proposal about YEP’s ideas because each idea fills in what development group wants to do,” she said. “I want to bring a food market and Krispy Krunchy Chicken, and that helps create job opportunities and provides resources to the community on and off campus.”
Providing jobs is one of the main goals for the developments of Langston.
Another YEP member Mario Barnes, junior health, physical education & recreation major, plans to bring entertainment and provide resources to the community.
“I came up with the M80 Bar & Grill so that the students can have a space to relax and have a good time and the Lion Cubs Daycare so that the non-traditional students can have a reliable care system for their kids,”
he said. “Also a LU Mechanic & Tire Shop for car repairs.”
Collaboration between the Langston Planning and Economic Development Group and Young Entrepreneur Project together could be valuable when it comes to bringing resources to Langston, Oklahoma.
With Pave the Way and The Beautification Projects approved to begin developing in April through the summer, more developments will begin.
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