If 2023 is any indication, northeast Oklahoma is on a roll.
With the continued support of our members, regional communities and tribal partners, the Tulsa Regional Chamber celebrated historic wins in the areas of economic development, regional tourism, government affairs and community development. Here’s a closer look at the successes we saw in each of these areas during 2023.
Economic Development
To continue to move our region forward, we must work together to build the region we want to see in the next decade, and a lot of that work is done through Tulsa’s Future, the Chamber-led regional economic development partnership that works with the City of Tulsa, hundreds of private investors, and regional and tribal partners to bring transformational investment to the Tulsa region.
Since its inception in 2005, Tulsa’s Future has generated more than 80,000 jobs and more than $6 billion in capital investment. Additionally, more than 200 public and private investors have supported Tulsa’s Future during the past 18 years.
During 2023, Tulsa’s Future continued to accelerate job growth and capital investment.
Existing employers such as AAON and Lufthansa Technik increased their presence in the region by adding locations or expanding operations.
Roxtec Inc. – the world’s leading provider of modular-based cable and pipe transits and transit safety services – announced it would nearly double the size of its operations in Tulsa with a $9.4 million expansion. Headquartered in Sweden, Roxtec has maintained a site in Tulsa for more than 25 years. It transitioned to a newly remodeled 56,000-square-foot building and added 17 jobs locally.
A number of new employers brought their companies to the Tulsa region.
Compu-Link Corporation, a financial services company headquartered in Lansing, Michigan, announced it is expanding its operations to Tulsa. The company will occupy 29,000 square feet at Eastgate Metroplex, and its Tulsa operations will provide reverse mortgage servicing support. Tulsa’s Future worked with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Eastgate Metroplex and McGraw Realtors to help Compu-Link identify a site in the region.
Laundris™, a B2B Enterprise Industrial Automation software platform, announced it is relocating its headquarters from Austin, Texas, to Tulsa. The company will be located at 36 Degrees North and plans to invest $3 million in operations in conjunction with its move to Tulsa.
Swiss company WindShape announced a strategic partnership with the Osage Nation to open an indoor drone testing and validation facility at the Skyway36 Droneport and Technology Innovation Center in Tulsa. The 19,000-square-foot facility will be operated exclusively by WindShape, using its ‘Windshaper’ technology to create an indoor free-flight laboratory, simulating natural wind and weather profiles for precise and reliable test results.
Global company Expleo announced it is locating a new office and 30 full-time jobs in Tulsa. The engineering technology and consulting service provider signed a strategic agreement with Spirit AeroSystems to deliver advanced digital engineering services for major aerospace programs. The companies will share an office on the 10th floor of the Philcade Building in downtown Tulsa.
An Italy-based clean energy company announced it is investing more than $1 billion in what has been labeled the biggest economic development project in Oklahoma history. Enel North America chose the Port of Inola as site for one of the largest solar cell and panel manufacturing plants in the nation, the company and its affiliate, 3Sun USA LLC. Enel plans to start manufacturing solar panels by the end of 2024. The project is expected to create more than 1,800 construction jobs, as well as 1,000 new permanent jobs by 2025.
In recognition of all this success, the Tulsa Regional Chamber was named the Economic Development Organization of the Year by the International Economic Development Council during IEDC’s annual conference in Dallas. IEDC’s Excellence in Economic Development Awards recognize the world’s best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials and the year’s most influential leaders. The Chamber, winner of a Bronze Award in 2021 and a Silver Award in 2022, was a Gold Award recipient in the Economic Development Organization of the Year category (population of 500,000 or greater).
The Chamber partnered with Development Counsellors International – DCI – to promote the Tulsa region nationally to investors, visitors and talent. One result of that work was an extensive series of podcasts on NPR as part of host Tom Wilmer’s “Journeys of Discovery” series. Wilmer visited Tulsa in 2023 and produced podcasts on a variety of local topics, including entrepreneurship in the Greenwood District, the Gathering Place and the city’s Art Deco district.
The third annual cohort of Tulsa’s NextGEN Talent (TNT) featured 33 externs gaining valuable experience at 17 companies, nonprofits and educational institutions. TNT is a growth and talent retention initiative designed to increase economic mobility and development for diverse talent in the Tulsa region through externships. For three weeks, the program places Black juniors and seniors from regional public schools in Tulsa-area companies for career exploration and experiential learning. The TNT workforce talent initiative was recognized by IEDC for an Excellence in Economic Development Award (population of 500,000 or greater), capturing a Bronze in the talent development and retention category.
This level of success and recognition would not be possible without the strong support of our regional business community, regional and tribal partners, and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Thank you to the numerous Tulsa’s Future investors that are helping us drive regional economic prosperity.
Regional Tourism
The cycle of economic success from the Tulsa region’s tourism industry is strong and growing stronger. Thanks to the hard work of Tulsa Regional Tourism staff, board members, volunteers and investors, we have gained distinction as a welcoming city for diverse events and visitors.
Housed at the Tulsa Regional Chamber, Tulsa Regional Tourism is an umbrella organization that includes Visit Tulsa, the leisure marketing leg; the Tulsa Convention & Visitors Bureau (Tulsa CVB); the Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts & Culture (Tulsa FMAC), an accredited film commission; and the Tulsa Sports Commission, which markets Tulsa as a destination for pro and amateur sporting events.
Tulsa Regional Tourism assists in the community’s bidding for, and hosting of, signature events such as the Bassmaster Classic, NCAA Division I and the Big 12 Wrestling Championships, USA BMX Grand Nationals, USA Gymnastics Championship, PGA Championship, the Arabian Horse Association’s U.S. Nationals, the Pinto Horse Association World Championship Show, the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals indoor car racing, the SeneGence International Evolve Seminar, and many more events and conferences.
Thanks to the efforts of regional tourism, fiscal year 22/23 brought in more than $4 million in lodging tax revenue for Tulsa. The total economic impact metrics of the conferences and events Tulsa hosted was more than $183 million (direct) and $317 million (total). More than 201,000 hotel room nights were booked along the way-against a goal of 140,000. Tulsa Regional Tourism brought in 371 event sales leads to the region, well-surpassing a goal of 260.
Speaking of events, the Tulsa CVB welcomed the 97th annual Oklahoma FFA State Convention May 2-3 at the BOK Center and Cox Business Convention Center. Considered the largest annual gathering in Oklahoma, it is estimated to have a direct economic impact of $4,991,456, with the total (direct and indirect) economic impact estimated at $8,696,122. This was the second year Tulsa hosted the Oklahoma FFA State Convention, and the city will continue to host it through the 100th anniversary convention in 2026.
The Tulsa CVB also welcomed the massive National Reining Breeders Classic to Tulsa for the first time–which was the largest new equine event in Tulsa.
The CVB also brought the nation’s fastest-growing motorcycle rally – the Black Wall Street Rally – back to historic Greenwood Avenue for a second year in May. Tens of thousands of visitors from across the country took part. The event also featured a panel discussion on minority entrepreneurship with local executive leaders from the Tulsa Economic Development Corporation, Arvest Bank, and the Tulsa Regional Chamber’s vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion, Jonathan Long.
Tulsa Regional Tourism, alongside the Tulsa Regional Chamber, hosted a ribbon cutting for the new Visit Tulsa Visitor Center stand-alone space at the Shops at Mother Road Market on Route 66.
City and Chamber leaders led conversations about the need for a convention center hotel in downtown Tulsa. Since 2018, the loss of convention business has cost Tulsa an estimated $186.7 million in economic impact, according to a feasibility study conducted by Hunden Partners, a Chicago-based destination real estate and development consulting firm.
Thanks to the work of Tulsa FMAC, the film, television and music industries continue to embrace the Tulsa region.
Tulsa ranked no. 19 on Moviemaker’s “2023 Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker” list. The ranking came at a time of significant growth in the number of TV and film productions in northeast Oklahoma. Tulsa ranked 5th on the magazine’s “top small cities and towns” list last year, but qualified for the big cities list in 2023.
During 2023, Tulsa FMAC supported 33 film and television projects, which included 376 production days, amassed nearly $21 million in local spend, and contributed to workforce with jobs for 184 local crew members.
Speaking of films, director Martin Scorsese’s filmed-in-Oklahoma epic “Killers of the Flower Moon” brought worldwide attention to the state. Tulsa FMAC teamed with the Oklahoma Film + Music Office and Oklahoma Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell to host preview screenings of “Killers of the Flower Moon” for the state film community and tribal representatives prior to its national debut.
Filming for the hit FX on Hulu show “Reservation Dogs” brought multiple stars to the Tulsa area, including actor Ethan Hawke, who was spotted at many Tulsa attractions. Supported by Tulsa FMAC, “Reservation Dogs” filmed all three of its seasons in the Tulsa region.
Tulsa FMAC partnered with local organizations to host the “Tulsa House,” which showcased Tulsa’s creative, tech and innovation ecosystems at the South by Southwest festival in Austin.
Tulsa FMAC spearheaded the third official (and most widely publicized) Tulsa Music Month, which takes place every July. Efforts included distribution of five thousand coasters around the city and dedicated press and advertising campaigns focused on 235+ live music events featured on visittulsa.com.
Tulsa FMAC also hosted the first-ever networking happy hour for 250 of Tulsa’s music industry at the historic Cain’s Ballroom and partnered with multiple organizations for additional special events and discounts.
Sports are always big in Tulsa, and thanks to the work of the Tulsa Sports Commission, 2023 was a banner year.
Tulsa was the center of the NCAA wrestling world during the month of March. The Big 12 Wrestling Championship was hosted at the BOK Center (March 4-5), followed two weeks later by the NCAA Wrestling Championships coming to Tulsa for the first time ever. The two tournaments brought 25,000 visitors to Tulsa. NCAA wrestling alone generated a direct economic impact estimated at over $9.6 million, with a total economic impact estimated at $16.5 million.
Bassmaster officials alongside hosts from the Tulsa Sports Commission announced the return of the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic to Grand Lake and the Tulsa region in March 2024.
Thousands of gymnasts from across the country were in Tulsa for the 2023 USA Gymnastics Championships. Held as the Tulsa region was dealing with storm debris and power outages, the event drew the admiration of organizers, who praised the city of Tulsa and the BOK Center for a great overall experience.
LIV Golf in Tulsa generated nearly 6,500 media mentions across local, national and international news. Those mentions translate to a whopping publicity value of nearly $322 million.
Add in the USA Taekwondo Team Trials and Pan American Games…and being named Best Run Course in the Global IRONMAN Athlete’s Choice Awards… and it’s clear why Tulsa was named Sports Commission of the Year by Sports ETA, the trade association for the sports events and tourism industry. Sports ETA also honored the Tulsa Sports Commission for the Event Marketing Campaign of the Year (population over 500,000) for promotion of wrestling in Tulsa.
Awards like this recognize that Tulsa is a world-class sports destination with state-of-the-art facilities and attractions, and that our community embraces events from a wide variety of sports.
Government Affairs
During 2023, the Tulsa region continued to invest in itself.
The Tulsa Regional Chamber led the campaign on behalf of Improve Our Tulsa 3, an $814 million capital improvements package approved by voters. Beyond continued infrastructure progress for Tulsa residents, this package also funds improvements to the Tulsa Zoo, Convention Center, Performing Arts Center, and BOK Center. It also makes a sizable investment in housing for the city.
Additional funding was announced for Tulsa’s new downtown Veterans Affairs hospital. Additional funding for the Veterans Hospital has been a priority of the OneVoice Regional Legislative Agenda. The government affairs team at the Chamber has worked closely with federal, congressional, state, city, county and philanthropic partners for many years to help make the hospital a reality.
The Tulsa Regional Chamber joined the State Chamber of Oklahoma, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, the Oklahoma District Attorneys Association, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt in opposing State Question 820. Voters across the state overwhelmingly rejected SQ 820, which would have legalized recreational marijuana for adults 21 and over. With just over 25 percent of registered voters participating, SQ 820 failed by a margin of 61% to 38%.
More than 60 attendees from across northeast Oklahoma traveled to our nation’s capital as part of our annual OneVoice Washington D.C. Fly-in. Attendees heard from members of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation, as well as some of the nation’s top policy experts from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, who spoke on topics ranging from cybersecurity and minority business development to downtown revitalization and energy.
Senate Bill 509 – which creates the Oklahoma Civil Rights Trail – was signed into law, paving the way for continued exploration and sharing of Oklahoma’s history.
The Chamber partnered with Tulsa County’s two major political parties and the Election Board to create the “Adopt a Precinct” initiative, which encourages businesses to allow their employees paid leave while serving as much-needed poll workers.
Community Development
The Chamber dedicated significant energy in 2023 to increasing opportunity within the community.
The Chamber convened its annual State of Inclusion event, which elevates the Tulsa region’s efforts to cultivate diverse, equitable and inclusive best practices. The gathering featured keynote speaker Brian Black, director of diversity and inclusion for the Customer Channels Group (CCG) and BioProduction Group (BPG) at Thermo Fisher Scientific. Before a crowd of more than 500 people, he spoke on the need to stand up and create inclusive environments. State of Inclusion also featured an expert panel of local leaders discussing inclusive leadership.
Tulsa’s Young Professionals (TYPROS) hosted its third year of 918 Lead, a nonpartisan bootcamp to prepare young Tulsans to run for public office. Through 918 Lead, TYPROS seeks to create a pipeline of informed and engaged young Tulsans who will become leaders in our region and beyond. The program included former and current elected officials, campaign managers and political insiders sharing information about the roles and responsibilities of various levels of government, a firsthand look at the challenges and opportunities of serving in public office, and insight into the skills needed to run a campaign.
Community leaders shared their expertise with TYPROS at its annual All Access event. All Access is a vertical networking event that gives young professionals a chance to have informal conversations with community and business leaders in a roundtable setting.
The Tulsa Supplier Diversity Alliance – an initiative of the Chamber’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts – brought together supply chain and other purchasing professionals to diversify vendor networks and usage.
As the Chamber’s coalition of companies and nonprofit partners committed to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), Mosaic helps educate, lead and influence businesses on creating diverse workforces and inclusive workplaces to enhance their competitive advantage.
Taken annually by dozens of Tulsa-area companies and organizations, the Mosaic Inclusive Workplace Index quantifies the region’s progress toward inclusivity and equity. The index results provide both macro-level insights and tailored feedback for participants to help them improve their own DEI efforts. A number of encouraging insights came from the 2023 index. Of those organizations participating in the index:
- 96 percent said DEI is a stated organizational value and/or priority area
- 93 percent said leaders within their company communicate about the internal value of DEI
- 93 percent publicly support diversity and inclusion work in the Tulsa region
- 83 percent said their organization publicly communicates information about its diversity goals and/or values
More than 100 business and community leaders spent three days in Austin for the Chamber’s 2023 Intercity Visit. This year’s trip covered a variety of topics, including homelessness, affordable housing, river development and the impact of destination venues.
Rolling On
As your partner in prosperity, the Tulsa Regional Chamber looks back proudly at all the Tulsa region collaboratively accomplished during 2023.
There’s every reason to expect that progress in the areas of job growth, tourism and community building will continue.
The ongoing investment of Chamber members helps make progress possible.
And with continued commitment, the Tulsa region will roll toward an even more prosperous future.