Workers in Durant and other communities along the Oklahoma-Texas border need to weigh the cost benefits of working in one state rather than the other. Oklahoma has a 6-percent state income tax, whereas Texas has no state income tax. But property taxes in the Sooner State are significantly lower than those of Texas. "Texas' no-state-income-tax pitch is deceiving, because they get you in a lot of other ways, especially real estate tax," notes Frank Simpson, facility manager at the Big Lots center. "I took an actual pay cut but ended up making more money coming to Oklahoma, because there are so many things, such as automobile insurance, that are less expensive here. If you go south into Sherman, Texas, your auto insurance goes up dramatically, as does your homeowner's insurance."

Oklahoma's Cyberversity The University of Tulsa has emerged as a leading center of cybersecurity in the United States, which makes it a key player in the burgeoning homeland security industry. The school is one of 23 National Security Agency (NSA)-designated Centers of Excellence in information assurance and security education.       The Center for Information Security (CIS) at the university uses National Science Foundation and Dept. of Defense funds to train computer-security experts to prevent threats from cyberspace. It offers degrees and certificate programs through the university's colleges of engineering, arts and sciences, law and business administration, including a Ph.D. program.       A recipient of more than $16 million in federal grants, the University of Tulsa is one of only two national faculty development centers designated by the NSA — the other is Purdue University. Faculty from around the country gain training in security-program and professional development.

      Cardinal Glass is another major Durant employer and newcomer to the state; it supplies Anderson Windows, Marvin Windows and others with insulated glass for the residential housing market. The plant serves the southern and southwestern markets and is the fourth float glass plant to open in the past several years in the U.S. The plant's proximity to Texas is particularly fortuitous, explains Larry Peck, human resource manager. "The state of Texas helped us immensely by passing legislation that says any new construction or remodeling activities that occur in Texas must be insulated glass units, which is what we do best." Cardinal windows that are coated can result in energy savings of 35 percent, he points out.
      The plant employs 285 people, and Peck acknowledges working hard to fully staff the facility. "We continue to churn the bottom five to 10 percent," he notes, which is due in part to a shift schedule that requires workers to work nights.
      Rail access for bringing raw materials into the plant was a key location consideration, given the huge quantities of sand and other materials needed for glass manufacturing. "We were able to find Cardinal a location where their northern property line is the railroad track," says John Cathey, Chairman of the Durant Industrial Authority. "We were able to get a community development block grant to provide the railroad spur to the west side of the building." Equally important is energy, says Peck, which runs about $775,000 per month at the Durant facility.
      "One of the reasons we're here," adds John Schuster, production manager, "is that this area wanted a plant like this, and they provided a lot of extra financial support to make it attractive to come here as opposed to some Texas locations, which are a bit closer to our main customer. Their tax structure made it such that it would cost us quite a bit more a year — about $1 million — to be there than to be here," he notes.