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Governor announces $15 million grant in State of the State address
Gov. Brad Henry addressed members of the Tulsa Metro Chamber and regional business leaders announcing a $15 million grant to help fund early childhood education to be awarded to Tulsa Public Schools.
The announcement came after Henry applauded Tulsa for its innovation and leadership in early childhood education citing the city as a model for other cities across the nation.
Through the grant, and matched funding from the George Kaiser Family Foundation, three new early childhood education facilities will be built to include a birth to 3-year-old education component.
"Tulsa continues to be a leader in early childhood education," Henry said. "With this new component, Tulsa will continue to be seen as innovators in the field."
Henry recapped many of the legislative successes the Tulsa region celebrated this year including funding to keep the OSU Medical Center open as well as money designated to build low-water dams on the Arkansas River, two issues which topped the Chamber’s OneVoice legislative agenda.
“The Chamber has had great successes throughout the years and it truly makes a difference,” Henry said. “Without the help of the Tulsa Metro Chamber many important initiatives would never have become law.”
Gov. Henry also devoted a portion of his speech to addressing the current state of the economy and Oklahoma’s position compared to the rest of the nation.
“We’re not going to spend all of the stimulus dollars in one year. We’re going to set aside one half of those for the 2010 budget,” said Henry. “It would be prudent for us to plan for the worst. I think we’re in a better position than most of the other states to continue to ride out and weather this storm.
“Ultimately we will come out of this economic recession and when we do we need to have maintained the foundation for a bright and successful future.”
Read more about the governor’s address or listen to it as recorded by KWGS:
Grant OK’d for 3 child centers
Gov. Henry Delivers Tulsa-Centric State of the State
KWGS broadcast
Chamber launches business retention and expansion program
The Chamber’s economic development division is opening the lines of communication with existing companies in the Tulsa region through a new peer-to-peer outreach business retention and expansion (BRE) program.
The BRE program will include a committee of business leaders who meet with area companies to discuss opportunities, issues and challenges companies may face, including barriers to growth, expansion, regulatory processes, mergers and workforce issues.
The committee is currently being formed. The first training sessions begin later this week and will be led by Laith Wardi, CEcD, president of ExecutivePulse, Inc. Wardi has more than 15 years of experience in economic development and is an instructor on business retention for the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).
“One of our key economic development objectives this year at the Chamber is to strengthen our BRE program to help the businesses that are already here grow and prosper,” said Stuart Solomon, president and COO of the Public Service Company of Oklahoma and the Chamber’s vice chairman of the board for economic development.
The Chamber’s team of BRE volunteers will visit with local businesses and communicate needs, wants and plans to Chamber staff in order to identify opportunities to lend assistance.
For information about joining the BRE committee or to schedule a BRE meeting with volunteers for your company, contact Danielle Runyan, business retention and expansion manager, at 560.0265 or daniellerunyan@tulsachamber.com.
Tulsa Ballet is in the Big Apple
The Tulsa Metro Chamber and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce have partnered to help sponsor a Tulsa Ballet performance in New York City during the company’s “Big Apple Tour,” marking its first New York performance in 25 years.
“The Chamber and our co-hosts are proud to sponsor a performance of the Tulsa Ballet’s Big Apple Tour. We have invited site location consultants and corporate real estate executives in New York City to attend the performance so they can experience one of the many treasures the Tulsa region has to offer,” said Jim Fram, senior vice president of economic development for the Tulsa Metro Chamber.
Tulsa Ballet will present seven performances at New York City's Joyce Theater — the only theater in the Big Apple devoted entirely to dance — beginning today through Friday. The last time the company performed in New York was 1983.
For its return engagement, Tulsa Ballet will perform three works that are relatively recent additions to the company's repertoire: Sir Kenneth MacMillan's "Elite Syncopations," which the company performed for the first time in March; Nacho Duato's "Por vos Muero," which was part of the 2006-2007 season; and "This Is Your Life," Young Soon Hue's creation for Tulsa Ballet that premiered as part of the 2008 "About Tango" program.
An Opening Night Gala Patron Reception will be held following tonight’s performance, at the Viceroy Cafe in New York City.
Gov. Brad Henry and Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor will be among the guests at this event.
Other events planned for the week include a patrons’ brunch tomorrow, post-performance receptions Aug. 12 and 13, and a special salute to Tulsa Ballet dancers following the Aug. 15 performances.
The Chamber partnered with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the Oklahoma Business Roundtable to sponsor the performance as an economic development marketing opportunity to help attract new businesses to the region. When companies are making the decision to relocate, quality of life attributes like an outstanding ballet company make Tulsa an attractive option.
For more information about the Tulsa Ballet Big Apple Tour, call 749-6030 or online at tulsaworld.com/tulsaballet.
Chamber asks members to update their informationDoes the Tulsa Metro Chamber have accurate contact information for you and your business?
With the printing and distribution of the annual membership directory happening soon, the Chamber is requesting your updated contact information.
An email will be sent to all members who have an email address on file with the Chamber providing members with their current contact information as recorded by the Chamber. Please take a moment to review your information for accuracy or follow the instructions to make changes or updates to your information. By doing so, it will help us ensure an accurate listing for your business in our membership directory as well as ensuring you receive all pertinent communications issued from the Chamber.
For members without an email address on file, the Chamber will mail the same form and provide a space for an email address to be added.
For questions regarding your directory listing, please contact Vice President of Membership Ruth
Littlefield at 918.560-0280 or ruthlittlefield@tulsachamber.com
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