Mecad USA is steering its U.S. headquarters to the Tulsa Port of Catoosa, with plans for a 32,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing hub that the company says will bring nearly 300 jobs and about $13.4 million in investment. Hiring is slated to ramp up in mid-2026 as Mecad builds out automated testing and systems-assembly operations for its North American customers.
“The flexibility provided by Oklahoma’s new behind-the-meter law significantly de-risks our energy strategy. Coupled with the Port’s infrastructure and the state’s transportation network, the site is ideally suited for our next phase of innovation,” Candido Romero, CEO of Mecad USA, said in the company’s announcement, according to a release from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.
Behind-the-meter law cleared a path
State policy helped tip the scales. Senate Bill 480, authored by Sen. Grant Green and signed into law in 2025, allows private companies to build on-site power generation and storage without being treated as regulated public utilities. Supporters say the change cuts interconnection delays for heavy energy users and makes Oklahoma a stronger contender for power-hungry projects, according to the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
The deal’s specifics
Mecad plans to invest roughly $13.4 million and occupy a 32,000-square-foot facility at the port, projecting close to 300 jobs across engineering, production, maintenance and technical roles. Reporting indicates the Commerce Department did not attach direct state incentives to the project, although Mecad could still seek support through Oklahoma’s Quality Jobs Incentive Program, The Journal Record reports.
Why the Port of Catoosa fits
The Tulsa Port of Catoosa is a 2,000-acre multimodal industrial park with barge, rail and highway connections on site, already home to more than 50 companies. Direct access to inland waterway shipping and freight rail, combined with ready industrial land, is central to the port’s pitch to manufacturers, according to Tulsa Ports.
Mecad’s footprint and next steps…