Mar. 1—Youth pastor Clay Payne appears on a video touting Muskogee as a good place to raise a family and cattle.
"Muskogee Means More because it is more," Payne said in a video, "It's not just industry, not just restaurants. It's where we placed our roots. It's where we want to be."
Payne's video is one of several "Meet Muskogee" profiles featured the Muskogee Means More website. It is part of a collaborative campaign launched Thursday to promote the collective spirit of the community.
City, school, health and business leaders packed the City of Muskogee Foundation office Thursday to hear more Muskogee Means More details. The Foundation is partnering with the City of Muskogee, Port Muskogee and Greater Muskogee Area Chamber of Commerce.
The campaign also introduced a new brochure and logo.
Foundation Chairwoman Wren Stratton said Muskogee Means More seeks to "bring out all the positive things we are and the potential we have to be so much more."
"Muskogee Means More is more than just a tagline," she said. "It's a profound statement about our vibrant community and the incredible individuals who call it home. We're talking about fostering a deeper connection to our hometown, building a stronger sense of community and paving the way to a future full of opportunity."
Jerrod Murr, co-founder of Paradigm Shift leadership training firm, recalled taking offense at someone who told him it would be hard to start a business in Muskogee.
"He said 'you should at least move to Tulsa,'" Murr said. "I seem to remember thinking I don't agree with that, especially being from here. My family's here, my connections are here, I want be a part of something here, as a community member and business owner. I am thrilled for the Muskogee Means More campaign through my involvement in the Muskogee Young Professionals group."
City Manager Mike Miller said Muskogee is a place "where individuals of all walks of life can come together and form that common bond that lets us get important things done."
The Muskogee Means More website features an interactive tool to show how Muskogee's cost of living compares to selected communities. For example, the website says overall cost of living is 21.5 percent lower than Coweta and 23 percent lower than Broken Arrow.
The website's Live Here segment features categories focusing on cost of living, education, public safety, wellness, history and culture. The Work Here segment focuses on entrepreneurs and businesses, industries and higher education. Move Here touts Muskogee's affordability, noting that Business Facilities Magazine declared Muskogee as the United States' Most Affordable City in 2023.