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Tulsa recognized as a top place to live
Tulsa was named the No. 1 metro for cost of living and the No. 2 city for quality of life in Business Facilities’ 2009 Metro Rankings list. Tulsa was recognized for its low housing costs, quick commute, low tax burden and as a great place to build personal wealth.
“Accolades continue to proclaim Tulsa a great place to live and do business, and it’s no surprise with our low cost of living, stable housing market and the growing number of attractions like the BOK Center and downtown ballpark,” said Mike Neal, president and CEO of the Tulsa Metro Chamber. “Recognitions Tulsa is receiving for housing, job creation and quality of life demonstrate our numerous assets and the reason we are a vibrant, thriving community experiencing true revitalization,” Neal said.
Click here to view the full 2009 Metro Rankings list.
Recent Tulsa Rankings
• No. 1 place to live in the U.S. (Relocate America 2009)
• No. 2 mid-sized city for jobs and No. 10 among all cities (Forbes 2009)
• No. 2 “pay-raise” city in the U.S. (Forbes 2009)
• No. 8 small city of the future (fDi magazine 2009)
• No. 5 on America’s Most Livable Cities list (Forbes 2009)
• No. 1 U.S. city likely to escape the commercial real estate slump (U.S. News & World Report 2009)
• 5th strongest market for residential real estate through September 2009 (Forbes 2009)
• 9th best city for real estate bargains (MSN Real Estate 2009)
• One of America’s top hot real estate markets (CNNMoney 2009)
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TYPros’ eco-friendly event draws hundreds
Tulsa’s Young Professionals hosted its signature 2009 event, the Green Gala, Saturday at Harwelden to promote the importance of sustainable practices in the region. Hundreds of young professionals and the young at heart turned out to walk the “green carpet,” listen to music from local artists and learn simple ways to be green in everyday life.
“Communities that show commitment to sustainability are more likely to attract and retain young professionals, so TYPros is committed to promoting green practices in the Tulsa area,” said Karisha Arnett, 2009 TYPros chair. “The Green Gala incorporated sustainable best practices when and where possible in order to lead by example and show our members, city and state officials and all Tulsans being green is important to us and to the future of Tulsa.”
Many aspects of the event were eco-friendly: bike parking was provided, décor was created from borrowed and found objects, catering included local produce and bands performed using solar power.
Attendees were able to participate in a photo petition that will be sent to city councilors and state legislators to show young professionals who support local clean energy development and sustainable practices. Donations were collected for the ReGreen Tulsa initiative, a joint effort of the City of Tulsa, Up With Trees and Tulsa’s Tree Advisory Committee to replace trees lost during the 2007 ice storm. In addition, State Rep. Seneca Scott attended to speak briefly about sustainability issues in Oklahoma and how young professionals will lead the way in implementing positive change.
TYPros work crews, including the Sustainability Crew, collaborated to create an annual signature event promoting green practices in the Tulsa metro area’s public and private sectors. Click here to learn more about TYPros’ sustainability efforts.
Sullivan focuses on health care at Congressional Forum
Health care was top of mind for U.S. Rep. John Sullivan when he addressed a crowd of approximately 400 attendees at the Tulsa Metro Chamber’s Congressional Forum series last Thursday.
“We must increase access and affordability of health care, while still maintaining the high quality of care our doctors give to Americans every day,” said Sullivan.
Sullivan went on to highlight problems with the current plan and his recommendations for a solution to the heath care crisis.
“This bill has the potential to force more than 100 million Americans off their current private health care plans where they have choices and on to the government rolls with government bureaucrats and advisory boards making the health care decisions for all Americans,” he said.
“Our nation’s health care system is in need of reform, but it should not come at the expense of our nation’s small businesses and straining the patient-doctor relationship.
“Any reform that we do must give all stakeholders a seat at the table,” said Sullivan. “People like you, physicians, hospitals and the like. We need to move incrementally, more slowly as we go through this process.”
Other areas Sullivan addressed included energy, natural gas and the economy.
“I believe natural gas is the bridge fuel toward decreasing our dependence on foreign sources of oil and putting our nation on a path to energy security,” said Sullivan. “My bill, H.R. 1622 is very simple, but it will have a lasting impact on our national energy policy. It expands research and development into natural gas engines so we can increase the number of natural gas vehicles on our roads.”
The Tulsa Metro Chamber hosts the Congressional Forum series each year to provide members the opportunity to hear from Washington lawmakers on issues of importance to the Tulsa regional business community and quality of life.
The next forum will feature Rep. Mary Fallin on Friday, Sept. 18 at noon at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center. To register, visit TulsaChamber.com or email elainewalsh@tulsachamber.com.
Loyalty marketing participation rising
U.S. consumer participation in rewards programs is on the rise across all demographic segments, according to a new study by Colloquy.
Loyalty programs recognize and reward a company’s best customers. Consumers are leaning on such programs to stretch household budgets further by earning rewards for their purchases. In fact, one-third of consumers find loyalty programs “more important” when battling tough economic times.
The study reports a 19 percent participation growth by the general population since 2007. Activity in desirable demographic segments is up even more. Women as a demographic are up 29 percent since last measured in 2007. Participation by Millennials (age 18-25) has soared 32 percent in the same time period.
“Millennials present a golden opportunity in a time of economic darkness for loyalty marketers,” said Kelly Hlavinka, coauthor of the study.
More than one-quarter (27 percent) of Millennials are actively seeking to enroll in new programs to help expand their budgets. They are eager to build relationships with their favorites brands and eager to engage with those companies through new media channels, such as social media sites and via cell phone or text messaging.
Source: Colloquy.com, July 2009
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.
Clarehouse
Kelley Scott, RN, CHPN, Executive Director
7617 S. Mingo Road
Tulsa, OK 74133
Phone: 893.6150
www.clarehouse.org
IBC Bank
Adam Sanders, Branch Manager
1 E. 5th Street
Tulsa, OK 74103
Phone: 497.2449
www.ibc.com
Visiting Nurses Association of Tulsa
Marsha Dunham, Director of Professional Services
7875 E. 51st St., N-3
Tulsa, OK 74145
Phone: 743.9810
www.vnatulsa.org
Tulsa Liquidation
Mohanad Alsawaf, Owner
5444 S. 108th E. Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74146
Phone: 770.7991
www.tulsaliquidation.com
El Rancho Grande
John Walden, Owner
1629 E. 11th St.
Tulsa, OK 74120
Phone: 584.0816
www.elranchograndemexicanfood.com
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