Priorities - Economic Development

Tulsa is poised for growth and prosperity! Everywhere you look, there is a New Kind of Energy emerging in the business community. We are working to make sure that the City of Tulsa is “open for business”. Below are a few accomplishments!

Vision 2025

The citizens of Tulsa have a vision for their future and passed a county-wide funding initiative to implement their goals. Today, Vision 2025 projects are coming online with great excitement and enthusiasm. For more information go to http://www.vision2025.info/.

• Vision 2025 projects currently complete:
  
  • Morton Health Center;
  • Tulsa Air & Space Museum & Planetarium;
    
  • Osage Trail;
    
  • Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame;
    
  • American Airlines;
    
  • TCC Health Sciences and Biotechnology Learning Center, the first higher education Vision 2025 project to be completed;
    
  • Route 66 Plaza;
    
• BOk Center and Convention Center:
  
  • BOk Center – construction costs within estimates; o September 2008 opening date on target;
    
  • Acts beginning to be booked (e.g. Celine Dion, Kenny Chesney, etc.;
    
  • Talon football and Oiler hockey contracts complete;
    
  • Tulsa Convention Center renovation has begun, and upon completion will have the largest ballroom in Oklahoma, two arenas, and more meeting space downtown than any other city in the state;
    
  • BOk and Tulsa Convention Center renovation costs equal $227 million.

DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION

Tulsa’s downtown is on the move! With the opening of the new BOK Center coming this fall, downtown is buzzing with new restaurants and entertainment venues. Below are other things that we are doing to bring downtown back to life:

• Centennial Walk:
  
  • Transformation of a former parking lot into a greenway with grass, trees and a fountain (September 2007 – April 2008);
    
  • $2.8 million project consists of new traffic signals, new sidewalks and trees, decorative pedestrian lights between intersections, multi-space parking meters and storm drainage improvements.
    
• Centennial Green Park will feature a fountain at one end of the oval green lawn and an amphitheater at the other end. These features will add appeal and bring new life to the city’s core.
  
• Mayo Hotel and Mayo Building projects underway ($3 million);
  
• 1st Street Lofts ($3 million; 19 lofts);
  
• Oltman Homes set to build a 33-home gated community on Cincinnati Ave. between Oklahoma St. and Latimer Place with no down, low interest loans. ($4,850,000); o Downtown streets set for completion by September 2008 (in conjunction with the BOK opening);
  
• Trolley service to downtown venues slated.
  

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Tulsa was founded by entrepreneurs with bold ideas and a spirit of innovation! Today, that same spirit can still be found in Tulsa! We know that the best way to grow opportunities in our city is by supporting our existing small businesses and industries. Here are a few things we are doing:

• Tulsa Economic Development Corporation:
  
  • Received $500,000 to capitalize a $1.5 million Community Development Loan Fund;
    
  • Launched FastTrac course, an educational program that helps business owners develop insight, leadership skills and professional networking connections.
    
• Economic Development Commission:
  
  • Stepped up marketing of retail development
    
• Entrepreneurship Week:
  
  • Hosted by Mayor in February 2007, April 2008. Initial program drew nearly 200 local business professionals;
    
  • First year (2007) – $25,000 award, office space for one year, and access to SpiritBank Business Resource Center Strategic Partner Network for best business plan, presented by SpiritBank (2007 awardee – Seeking Sitters);
    
  • Second year (2008)– $105,000 cash and services;
    
  • National exposure through videos of successful entrepreneurs posted on YouTube.
    
• Launched BRIDGE (February 2007)
  
  • The BRIDGE (Building Resources in Developing and Growing Enterprises) program partners small businesses with established businesses in a mentorship relationship. Participants enjoy educational opportunities, peer partnering and networking opportunities. For more information go to http://cityoftulsa.org/community/humanrights/BRIDGEprogram.asp. AEROSPACE: Tulsa’s aerospace industry is our largest industry cluster. We are working with industry leaders and state government to support this vital economic engine.
    
• Secured $10 million in State Opportunity Fund dollars to Tulsa/funding incentives in infrastructure to retain and grow employers in the aerospace industry;
  
• Tulsa International Airport renovations:
  
  • Welcomed ExpressJet with direct flights to six destinations (San Antonio, Ontario, Austin, San Diego, San Francisco, Dallas);
    
  • Invested $34 million to unveil 85,000 square feet of renovated space (completed passenger terminal), allowing the airport to welcome thousands of visitors to the PGA and LPGA Tournaments in 2007;
    
  • Airline capacity increased 9.3 percent in the last year;
    
  • ExpressJet opened 6 non-stop flights to San Francisco, Ontario (LA), Austin, San Antonio, and Santa Fe.

OTHER PROJECTS

• Mayor’s Task Force to End Homelessness:
  
  • $2 million grant to help construct a center for Tulsa’s mentally ill and homeless;
    
• North Tulsa Economic Development Initiative:
  
  • Formed a taskforce to set three development priorities for North Tulsa; planning model facilitated by Oklahoma Community Institute, funded by Oklahoma Department of Commerce —North Tulsa Development Action Group caused formation of North Tulsa Parade of Homes;
    
  • Obtained grant for North Tulsa leadership training