Tulsa, Oklahoma
Economic Development Strategy
In 2005, the Tulsa
Metro Chamber launched a privately-funded, multi-year program with a goal of
creating thousands of new high-wage jobs in the region. That program,
Tulsa’s Future, has generated some great successes
throughout its implementation. In total, the program has assisted in creating
over 9,000 direct jobs in the Tulsa metropolitan area.
In these fragile economic times, the Tulsa
Metro Chamber realized that the region could not afford to lose the positive
momentum created by
Tulsa’s Future. Accordingly, the Chamber contracted with
Market Street
Services to build upon that
momentum and propel the region forward to the next level of competitiveness for
its businesses and prosperity for its residents.
The six-month strategic process in Metro
Tulsa focused on research both for the city of Tulsa and Tulsa county, but the
additional counties that form the region. Project deliverables focused on an
analysis of economic and demographic trends, competitive factors and
opportunities, marketing, and staff and program dynamics. Dozens of interviews
and focus groups and an online survey complemented the quantitative research,
and – combined with key findings from the project reports – led to the development of strategies to take the region to the next
level of success.
The
Metro Tulsa’s Future II plan is an ambitious blueprint for the metro
area’s future growth. It focuses on a comprehensive and holistic set of
actions to boost the region’s workforce, economy and quality of life. The
Tulsa Metro Chamber is currently fine-tuning the performance metrics that will
inform the strategy’s implementation and is also assessing the
capacity needed to put the plan in motion.
The Chamber will officially launch
Metro Tulsa’s Future II in mid-2009.