When Stardust Power went looking for a site to build its $1 billion lithium refinery—one of the largest proposed in the U.S.—it needed land, logistics, and labor. What it found in Muskogee, Oklahoma, was something more rare: a city that had quietly built the kind of alignment between infrastructure, incentives, and workforce that could support not just a project, but a long-term industrial strategy.
The refinery will create 300 jobs and produce battery-grade lithium crucial to the EV and energy storage supply chain. But the real story isn’t just about lithium—it’s about how Muskogee pulled together the pieces to win the deal.
A Rail-Served Site—and the Will to Improve It
Muskogee already had strengths in its corner. The selected site at Southside Industrial Park West offered rail access and proximity to I-40. The Port of Muskogee emphasized the region’s multimodal advantages, including barge access via the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System.
But what tipped the scales was the willingness to invest in targeted infrastructure. The city and county created two Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts to fund major upgrades: one to improve a key industrial road corridor, and the other to rehabilitate the long-dormant Midland Valley Branch Line, bringing it up to federal standards and reconnecting it with Union Pacific.
“These improvements benefit Stardust Power—but they also position us for future industrial growth,” says Heather McDowell of the Port of Muskogee.
Innovation at the Entry Level: Elevate 18
While infrastructure helped land the site, Muskogee’s most forward-thinking move may be on the workforce side. Alongside partnerships with Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology and Indian Capital Technology Center, the Port is launching a program called Elevate 18—a five-week training initiative for high school seniors who want to go directly into the workforce.
The program teaches safety, soft skills, and manufacturing basics to prepare students for entry-level industrial work. “We’re meeting students where they are—and building a workforce that stays rooted here,” McDowell says.
In a sector where talent is often imported or retrained mid-career, Muskogee’s focus on pre-college talent development offers a local-first model others could follow.
Winning Trust Before Breaking Ground
Even with the right infrastructure and workforce, major industrial projects often face public resistance. Stardust Power leaned into transparency—attending community meetings, responding to questions, and partnering with local emergency services to discuss safety protocols.
They’ve also committed to exceeding environmental regulations, including dust control and fire suppression systems, and have become early sponsors of local events and workforce programs.
“They’re not just building a plant,” McDowell says. “They’re becoming part of the community.”
The Real Innovation: Alignment
The Stardust deal may be remembered for the lithium, but the innovation lies in how Muskogee moved as one. Infrastructure, education, business, and government came together early, with a shared sense of purpose.
“When those pieces align,” McDowell says, “you can win projects that change your future.”
