Fallin was elected as the state's first woman and first Republican to the post of lieutenant governor in 1994. She was re-elected in 1998 and voters returned her to office for a third term in 2002.
Fallin, originally of Tecumseh, said it was her fifth visit to Sallisaw over the years. She said she has a soft spot in her heart for rural communities, and she would like to see them not just survive, but thrive.
Fallin said she has been traveling throughout the state, discussing how to make communities stronger, which in turn make for a stronger state and a stronger nation.
During her speech synchronized with a computer-generated presentation, Fallin touched on how rural communities can plan for the future.
"We can do anything as long as we work hard," Fallin said.
Fallin said, as a rural community, Sallisaw doesn't have to be left behind, but can lead the way.
"We must never lose sight, not even for a moment, or turn our backs on the need to improve Oklahoma's economic development," Fallin said.
Fallin spoke about what's happening in Sallisaw, such as education development, more retail businesses with the three new strip malls in town, and the development of a 100 percent fiber optic network to the home. She said one of the challenges Sallisaw faces is commerce moving away from downtown.
Fallin urged the community to plan for the future including development of new ideas and strategies, growing leadership, and being competitive not only within the state, but in the global market.
Fallin said communities must find ways to stimulate economic growth, such as boosting consumer purchasing power, and giving businesses economic freedom to bring more prospects to the state.
Fallin said the keys to success are to ensure the community is ready when opportunity knocks and have a plan in place. She said the needs that communities should address include viable infrastructure, good roads, water and waste systems, broadband service and high-speed Internet, partnering with a higher education institutions, ensuring teaching stays current, and can provide quality education.
Fallin said the difficulties rural America face include having a quality education system, an aging infrastructure, poor transportation, building leadership, the need of rural housing, diversification of the economy, lack of capital for expansion of new ventures, an aging population, losing youth to metropolitan areas, small business survival, and social issues, such as drugs, and health care needs.
Fallin said policymakers help rural Oklahoma by addressing small business issues. She said some of the ways to help small businesses are having worker's compensation reform, eliminating frivolous lawsuits, providing tax relief, and eliminating the death tax or estate tax.
Fallin said rural Oklahoma can stay alive by developing long and short-term visions; analyzing the community's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats; encouraging regional cooperation; networking businesses; taking advantage of state programs; supporting local businesses; marketing the unique features of a community; and developing leadership programs.
Fallin said the future of rural Oklahoma is only limited by imagination.
Fallin's focus over the past eight years in office has been on economic development, education, health care and insurance, government reform, small businesses, worker's compensation, women business owners, child care and safety, and the Right to Work.
Before Fallin's speech, Dwight Spencer, chamber president, talked about the improvements in Sallisaw over the past four years, including passing a sales tax for the expansion of Carl Albert State College, Sequoyah County campus in Sallisaw, having a hospital named to the list of top 100 hospitals, facing transportation issues by expanding U.S. Highway 59 south, and seeing a 40 percent increase in retail sales and the opening of 20 new retail stores.
Spencer said the growth in Sallisaw has made Sequoyah County the eighth fastest growing county in the state.
Todd Martin, the chamber's membership chairman, said the chamber helps set the strategic direction of the community, and tries to provide a better quality of life and business direction.
Martin said the chamber is kicking off a membership drive and hopes to sign up 50 new members.
"Meet with us in two weeks, and remember, a rising tide lifts all boats," Martin said.
Spencer said the chamber needs everyone's help to make a better Sallisaw.
