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Task forces now forming for 2010 OneVoice legislative agenda
The Tulsa Metro Chamber celebrated a very successful 2009 legislative session as a result of the collaborative efforts from members and partners in the Tulsa region who helped create the OneVoice priorities advocated on their behalf.
With the wrap up of the 2009 session, the Chamber is turning its focus on 2010 and asking members to once again take part in determining what legislation is vital to the economic growth of the Tulsa region. Task forces are being assembled in nine areas: labor and human resources, regional tourism, small business, business attraction and expansion, health care, education, development, energy, federal issues and transportation.
Each legislative task force will meet multiple times to develop a list of top priorities to include on the 2010 OneVoice legislative agenda. All items included on the agenda must be for the benefit of the entire Tulsa region and agreed upon by the task force.
The task force chair will present the top three priorities at the Regional Legislative Summit on August 20 to regional business leaders who will determine which federal and state priorities to include on the OneVoice legislative agenda. The positions which fail to appear on the OneVoice agenda will be considered for adoption as Tulsa Metro Chamber priorities.
Some task forces will begin meeting this week. For a complete description of task forces, scheduled meeting times and to sign up, click here.
Making the most of a buy-regional program
More than 600 businesses are participating in the Chamber’s Let’s Do Business buy-regional program, and more are signing up every day to take advantage of its benefits. Not only is the program bringing out-of-area spending back to the Tulsa region, it is assisting companies in generating new business.
“Businesses in the Tulsa area are finding when they utilize the network of Let’s Do Business participants, they are rebuilding the economy, strengthening our community and often increasing their bottom lines when other participants find them through the program’s Web site,” said Kinnee Tilly, the Chamber’s vice president of business retention, expansion and small business. “All of this is done without raising taxes or spending a dime more on business purchases than companies already spend.”
The Let’s Do Business Web site, www.letsdobusinesstulsa.com, offers participants step-by-step instruction on buying regional, a directory of participating businesses, and a place to post RFPs. The site also allows companies to share success stories. There is no cost to sign up for Let’s Do Business or to use the Web site.
“Let’s Do Business is a win for the city, it’s a win for our businesses, and it’s a win for the 650-plus program participants,” Tilly.
Click here to learn more or sign up.
CVB forms downtown marketing committeeCommittee, local organizations to host Downtown CineSeries June 24
In an effort to utilize the amenities, services and businesses popping up in locations all over downtown Tulsa, the Tulsa Convention and Visitors Bureau, in association with downtown businesses, established a downtown marketing committee to create and promote opportunities for individuals to visit downtown after 5 p.m.
“There are so many exciting things occurring in downtown Tulsa, but those individuals who don’t live and work here every day may not be aware of the transformation taking place,” said Tom Green, director of downtown relations for the Convention and Visitors Bureau and committee chair. “This committee was established to help spur increased interest in downtown and create opportunities for people to take advantage of Tulsa’s newest attraction – downtown.”
Numerous new constructions, activities and rehabilitation efforts already in progress throughout downtown, including the BOK Center, ONEOK Field, Mayo Hotel, Brady Theater and festivals like Dfest and Mayfest are all catalysts for the joint effort.
And where current opportunities do not exist, the committee is creating them with events like the Downtown CineSeries, which kicks off Wednesday, June 24. Free and open to the public, the outdoor film and music event will take place on the Greens located on Third Street between the Crowne Plaza Tulsa Williams Center and the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. Food and adult beverages provided by Crowne Plaza will be available for purchase and live music performed by local artist Daniel Walcher will begin at 7:30 p.m. with the showing of Rumble Fish following at dusk.
Filmed in 1983 in Sapulpa, Okla., Rumble Fish was directed by Francis Ford Coppola and written by Tulsaʼs own S.E. Hinton. The cast includes, Matt Dillon, Diane Lane, Nicolas Cage, Mickey Rourke, Tom Waits and Dennis Hopper. The film is the story of Rusty James an absent-minded street thug who struggles to live up to his legendary older brother’s reputation and longs for the glory days of street gang warfare.
Attendees should bring blankets and lawn chairs.
The Downtown CineSeries is being helped in part by Crowne Plaza Tulsa Williams Center, Circle Cinema, Indion Entertainment Group, Tulsa Lawyers for the Arts, Michael Sager First Street Lofts and FieldGuide Media.
The committee also hopes the Downtown CineSeries will help increase the group’s awareness to other downtown venues so more collaborative efforts can occur to better serve as a partner in the promotion of downtown activities.
“We really want the downtown community to share their events and activities with us so we can help them promote their businesses and disseminate information to a broader audience,” said Green. “The goal being that increased activity in downtown Tulsa will in turn inspire confidence in the area’s ability to support new businesses and residential areas helping to grow the area.”
The goal of the downtown marketing committee is to position downtown Tulsa as an exciting, fun and safe place that is the cultural, entertainment and business center of the region. To learn more about the committee or to get involved, contact Tom Green, tomgreen@tulsachamber.com. To be added to the committee’s distribution list providing regular updates about downtown events and activities, email sbrown@tulsadowntown.org or add Tulsa downtown to your social media networks:
Facebook.com/TulsaDowntown
Myspace.com/TulsaDowntown
Twitter.com/TulsaDowntown
Companies dedicate new alternative fuels
Oklahoma Department of Commerce Secretary Natalie Shirley and Mayor Kathy Taylor joined Jim Fram, the Chamber’s senior vice president of economic development, and The M.e.t.’s Michael Patton at an event hosted by Waste Management and LaFarge Tulsa Cement Plant last Friday to inform the community and area business leaders about alternative fuel efforts in the state and to dedicate a new landfill gas pipeline.
Lafarge and Waste Management partnered to create an 8,000-foot pipeline to transport landfill gas, known as methane, into a usable fuel for the Lafarge Tulsa Cement Plant, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.
Methane is created naturally through the decomposition of waste in landfills. It is a readily available, renewable energy source that can be collected and used directly for industrial use. By partnering with Waste Management, Lafarge can effectively decrease a portion of its reliance on fossil fuels by substituting it for a safe, reliable and economical form of energy. In Tulsa, Lafarge is committed to taking 80 percent of all of the methane produced by Waste Management.
“This pipeline is the product of two companies working together creatively and responsibly for the good of both companies and our environment,” said Jim Bachmann, plant manager at Lafarge Tulsa Cement Plant.
Tulsa hosts annual aerospace event
Oklahoma's multi-billion dollar aerospace industry converged at the Crowne Plaza in Tulsa last week for the 2009 Oklahoma Aerospace Summit and Expo. More than 1,000 attended to network and attend sessions designed to help companies achieve in today's economy.
Representatives of the airline, aircraft manufacturing and maintenance industries made presentations to industry leaders, government officials and representatives from non-aerospace companies during the three-day summit.
Speakers included Lt. Gov. Jari Askins; Natalie Shirley, secretary of commerce and tourism; Mayor Kathy Taylor; and keynote speaker Bob Reding, executive vice president of maintenance and engineering for American Airlines. Chamber President and CEO Mike Neal served on a panel that discussed economic development opportunities for the aerospace and aviation industry.
“There is a tremendous amount of momentum in the Tulsa area in the aerospace industry,” Neal said. “The Chamber’s top priority is to create a business-friendly environment in which existing companies can thrive and we stand ready to assist and advocate on behalf of our aerospace partners.”
Learn more about the Oklahoma Aerospace Summit and Expo in the following articles:
Flight plan to future
State aerospace industry meets to exchange ideas
Aerospace Summit speakers optimistic about domestic industry
Askins kicks off Aerospace Summit
Chamber welcomes new businessesEach month the Tulsa Metro Chamber's Hospitality Club welcomes new businesses and new Chamber members to the community by assisting with ribbon cuttings and groundbreaking announcements.
Museum Veterans Association
Bob Powell, Chairman and CEO
6953 S. 66th E. Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74133
Phone: 794.2712
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