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Tulsa MSA’s population increase benefits economy
The latest census data reports Tulsa's Metropolitan Statistical Area, a seven-county region including Tulsa County, grew by 9.1 percent to a total population of 937,478. This gain of almost 78,000 people brings the greater Tulsa region closer to one million in population.
The Tulsa region’s growth in our seven-county MSA coincides with its growth in jobs and capital investment. The Chamber estimates in this 10-year period, the Tulsa region’s gross product grew an estimated 28.2 percent.
“One of the greatest competitive advantages for regions across the nation is workers,” said Mike Neal, president and CEO. “Adding almost 78,000 new people to the region ensures we have the workforce talent and skilled labor necessary to recruit new companies and sustain our existing employers.”
The Tulsa region is falling just short of the one million mark, but with new investments in economic development, public infrastructure, and quality of life initiatives, Northeast Oklahoma is gaining ground quickly.
“Today’s economies are no longer measured by cities, counties, or states,” said Neal. “People and companies do not make decisions to relocate based on invisible borders, but rather where they find opportunities for prosperity and a high quality of life.”
The renewed focus to grow the sense of regionalism is critical as the Chamber and its partners work together to develop the assets of Northeast Oklahoma into what is now considered a “mega-region” by industry experts.
According to the Chamber’s economist, Bob Ball, the Tulsa MSA population grew 0.87 percent annually from 2000 to 2010 while he also notes that during that same period, the Tulsa MSA’s per capita income grew 2.3 percent annually. Manufacturing output in the Tulsa MSA grew 29.5 percent 2000-2010.
Click here to read the Tulsa World’s exclusive analysis of census data and view interactive maps showing population change and racial makeup.
Tulsa to host World League Men’s Volleyball
USA Volleyball announced last week that Tulsa will host a 2011 FIVB World League match featuring the U.S. Men’s National Team and the No. 1 ranked Brazil team on June 24-25 at the Reynolds Center at The University of Tulsa.
The U.S. Men are ranked fifth in the world and are the defending Olympic champions. The United States won its first World League title in 2008 and finished third in 1992 and 2007. Brazil is ranked No. 1 in the world and has won the last two World League titles and nine World League titles overall. It also won the 2010 World Championship.
“We are honored to host this class of extremely talented, dedicated Olympic athletes,” said Ray Hoyt, Tulsa Sports Commission executive director. “Through our partnership with TU, we’re able to attract world-class sporting events such as this, which brings visitors, dollars and recognition to our city. We look forward to their visit and hope it’s the first of many.”
The two-day event is expected to draw 5,000 total visitors with an estimated economic impact of $324,000.
The FIVB World League is an elite men’s volleyball competition in which the world’s 16 best teams are divided into four pools and play an Intercontinental Round for six straight weekends from May 27 to July 3.
For local news coverage of the event and latest bracketology projections, see the following stories:
International volleyball event is coming to Tulsa
USA volleyball is coming to Tulsa
For the complete release, click here.
National Entrepreneurship Week, recent summit celebrate start-ups
National Entrepreneurship Week is Feb. 19-26 and is held annually to recognize the contributions of today’s entrepreneurs and the potential impact of entrepreneurship education for America’s youth.
“The Tulsa Metro Chamber and the Small Business Council understand the significance of entrepreneurism and start-ups to provide a positive and stable economy and invest in a variety of initiatives benefiting small businesses in the region,” said Jim Light, chair of the Small Business Council and owner of LaMode Quality Cleaners.
This week, the Chamber is hosting two events specifically geared toward small businesses:
• Small Business Forum
The February Small Business Forum will feature local entrepreneur and business owner Matt Galloway of Architactile. Galloway will present an overview of available resources and introduce a panel of resource partners who offer business-building services in the Tulsa region. The forum is scheduled for 7:30-9 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 22. Register online by clicking here.
• Business After Hours
One of the Tulsa Metro Chamber’s most popular networking events, Business After Hours, is this Thursday, Feb. 24 from 5-7 p.m. at the Tulsa Convention Center ballroom. Business After Hours will allow for plenty of room to mix, mingle and network among exhibitors and more than 600 peers at this highly attended and beneficial business-building event. Click here to register online.
Additionally, last week, Tulsa hosted the Technology Ventures Summit, an annual event held to connect entrepreneurs with each other and with the investors who fund them. The summit, sponsored by the Tulsa Metro Chamber, featured concurrent one-day workshops providing practical advice and training for entrepreneurs and angel investors.
The second day of the summit included presentations by 12 local technology companies to venture capital and angel investors. More than 200 start-ups and investors attended the event, which also presented the opportunity to learn what area colleges and universities are doing in the technology field.
Click here to read an article about the Ventures Summit in the Tulsa World.
Click here to learn about Tulsa Metro Chamber programs offering assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses in the region.
U.S. representatives, governor to view final section of IDL project
The chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, U.S. Rep. John Mica, Fla., will view the final section of the interstate rehabilitation project of Tulsa’s inner dispersal loop at a news conference on Thursday, Feb. 24 at 1:30 p.m.
Joining Congressman Mica is Congressman John Sullivan and Gov. Mary Fallin to ceremoniously mark the end of the project, which is one of the nation's single largest recipients of stimulus funding for the “shovel-ready” project. Work began in June 2009 on the $75 million project to replace all the pavement and more than 40 bridge decks on the north and west legs of the IDL.
Additional speakers include: Mayor Dewey Barlett, Federal Highway Assistant Administrator Ivan Marrero, Transportation Commissioner Pete Regan, Oklahoma Sec. of Transportation Gary Ridley, Manhattan Road and Bridge Sr. Vice President Mike Webb, and Tulsa Metro Chamber President and CEO Mike Neal.
Direction to news conference:
• Closed section of eastbound I-244 (north leg) at the NE corner of the IDL in Tulsa.
• Attendees should access this area from the closed eastbound I-244 on-ramp at Detroit Avenue.
• ODOT personnel will provide directions around the barricade.
• Proceed eastbound on the closed I-244 lanes to the parking area.
NCAA Tournament time nears
NCAA Tournament excitement continues to infiltrate Tulsa and as the March event nears host partners, community leaders, private business owners and volunteers prepare the city for approximately 70,000-100,000 visitors funneling into town as early as Wednesday, March 17 through Monday, March 21.
"There is an incredible amount of energy and excitement surrounding this event, but also an incredible amount of planning, prepping, fundraising and work that has to happen to ready Tulsa for an event this size," said Ray Hoyt, Tulsa Sports Commission executive director. "We have a tremendous opportunity though to not only show thousands of visitors how wonderful Tulsa is, but also to show large event organizers that Tulsa can support their program. However, for this to be a success we need everyone's support."
The University of Tulsa, Tulsa Sports Commission, VisitTulsa and partners throughout the city are working on transportation, accommodation, signage, event atmosphere and logistical plans to prepare Tulsa for the 2nd and 3rd Rounds of the NCAA Tournament, March 18-20. The tournament schedule allows for two practice days and two game days with games being played on Friday, March 18 and Sunday, March 20 leaving Saturday, March 19 free for visitors to explore Tulsa.
Though teams coming to Tulsa will not be announced until Sunday, March 13 many news outlets are projecting some of the top ranked teams in the country to be playing in Tulsa.
Tickets are $237 each and are good for a reserved seat for six games played in three sessions. Each ticket is an all-session ticket. No single-session tickets are being offered for sale at this time and it is anticipated that this event could sell out on the basis of the all-session ticket. To purchase tickets, visit NCAA.com/MBBTickets.
For more information on the tournament and how you can get involved, contact the Tulsa Sports Commission at (918) 560-0293.
For local news coverage of the event, see the following stories:
March Madness on the way to Tulsa
City of Tulsa can take cue from Spokane’s success, Seattle’s struggles with NCAA Tournament
City of Tulsa’s size poses unique challenges with NCAA Tournament
Chamber focuses recruitment, expansion efforts on target sectors
Tulsa’s Future II, the second five-year phase of the Chamber’s ongoing economic development plan, focuses on industries identified as those most concentrated in the Tulsa region with the greatest growth and job creation potential. Each target industry is vital to the region’s economic stability and development, and now, the Chamber’s economic development division has appointed staff members to specialize in attracting and expanding businesses in these targets.
“With staff focusing on each of our target industries, we will strengthen retention, expansion and recruitment of companies and identify areas of improvement to make the region more attractive to relocating businesses,” Jim Fram, senior vice president of economic development, said.
Target industries and the staff specializing in them include:
• Energy – Fram
• Aerospace and aviation – Dennis Altendorf, director, aerospace development and strategy
• Regional headquarters and professional services – Justin McLaughlin, vice president, economic development
• Machinery and electrical equipment manufacturing – McLaughlin
• Health care – Darryl “Rocky” Bright, project manager
• Transportation, distribution and logistics – Bright
For more information about Tulsa’s target industries, click here.
Cherokees, ODOT dedicate Catoosa Highway construction (article from Tulsa World)
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| In photo, L-R, Ivan Marrero, FHWA; Mike Neal, Tulsa Metro Chamber; David Stewart, Cherokee Nation; Curtis Snell, Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor; Peter Regan, Oklahoma Transportation Commission; Cara Cowan Watts, Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor; Gary Ridley, Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation; and Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith. |
Officials who facilitated the overhaul of the Interstate 44 and 193rd East Avenue interchange in Catoosa celebrated the finishing touches Wednesday to the year-and-a-half long project.
The $45 million project opened in late December but final parts were finished just before the February snowstorm, workers said.
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith said the entire Catoosa community will benefit from the project with more jobs and more business coming to the area.
Smith said the project has eased congestion, which will make people realize that going to Catoosa is as easy and quick as going to any other business center in the Tulsa metro area.
"People are working. Stores are open. It's a great day," Smith said.
The Cherokee Nation donated $12 million in right-of-way and funding donations to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to make the project happen, officials said.
For the complete story in the Tulsa World, click here.
New area code means 10-digit dialing
In 2010, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission approved the addition of the 539 area code to the geographic region currently served by 918 to ensure a continuing supply of telephone numbers in the state, and now businesses and residents in the 918 area code are asked to prepare for the “area code overlay.”
Beginning March 5, customers within Oklahoma’s 918 area code must dial 10 digits – the area code plus the telephone number – when making local calls. In addition to changing dialing procedures, customers are encouraged to begin reprogramming automatic dialing equipment and all other types of equipment currently programmed with only seven digits.
Other information to know about the area code overlay includes:
• Customers’ existing phone numbers in the 918 area code will not change as a result of the overlay;
• Beginning March 5, if customers do not use the new 10-digit dialing procedure, the calls will not be completed and a recording will instruct callers to hang up and dial again;
• Phone numbers with the new 539 area code may be assigned in some areas as soon as April 1;
• The price of a call, local and long-distance calling areas and other rates and services of a telecommunication provider will not change as a result of the area code overlay. What is a local call now will remain a local call regardless of the number of digits dialed;
• The dialing procedure for long distance or operator assisted calls will not change;
• For emergencies, customers will still dial only three digits to reach 911.
For more information, please visit www.occeweb.com or contact a local service provider.
What we’re working onExecutive
• Meeting about Heartland Conference initiatives.
• Attending Tulsa Sports Commission Executive Committee meeting.
• Oklahoma Innovations radio program interview.
• Attending OSU Spears School of Business forum featuring Jack Welch.
• Attending TYPros Advisory Council meeting.
• Hosting Tulsa Metro Chamber Board Meeting and Board Reception.
• Attending JP Morgan Chase dinner.
• Hosting breakfast with Mayor Dewey Bartlett and city’s leadership team.
• Attending Gov. Mary Fallin’s Task Force on Economic Development in Oklahoma City.
• Hosting monthly Capitol Luncheon in Oklahoma City.
• Attending reception for Congressman John Mica in Oklahoma City.
• Attending breakfast with Tom Captain, vice chairman of U.S. Aerospace and Defense Sector of Deloitt.
• Attending VisitTulsa Executive Committee meeting.
• Meeting with Gary Shaffer, CEO of Tulsa City County Library System.
• Hosting press conference for completion of IDL.
• Hosting Business After Hours.
• Attending US Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100 in Orlando.
VisitTulsa
• Attending Destination Showcase in Washington, D.C. and ACME conference this week.
• Continuing preparations for 2011 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament 2nd and 3rd round games.
• Processing Housing Bureau requests for the Appaloosa Horse Club Nationals show.
• Following up on leads received at the RCMA conference.
• Finalizing dates for the Dallas/Ft. Worth sales blitz.
Tulsa Sports Commission
• Forming LOC committee for operations and marketing of World League Volleyball.
• Ramping up on pre-operations and preparing the city for NCAA Men’s Basketball in March.
• Seeking teams for a night of bowling with the TSC fundraising event Strike Night on March 3.
• Creating BID proposal for USA Fencing events in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
• Forming committee for the Bill Connors Sports Dinner taking place fall of 2011.
Government Affairs
• Monitoring state and federal legislation.
• Attending JP Morgan Chase Business Leaders Breakfast.
• Attending U.S. House Transportation Chairman John Mica's Surface Transportation Field Hearing.
• Attending IDL completion news conference.
• Hosting monthly Capitol luncheon in Oklahoma City.
• Attending Tulsa Metro Chamber Business After Hours.
• Planning March-May legislative events.
Economic Development
• Tulsa’s Future ll visits.
• Hosting a senior aerospace consultant from Deloitte, LLP.
• Developing the agenda for the Oklahoma Aerospace Summit in Tulsa in June.
• Hosting a Small Business Forum focused on resources for small business, including SourceLink.
• Hosting board meeting/reception with Mosaic members attending.
• Assisting a local company with workforce and expansion needs.
• Video conference call with COSE and Small Business Council leadership regarding rebranding.
• Attending the Owasso Economic Summit.
• Sponsoring and attending the city of Tulsa’s BRIDGE Certification Committee’s annual trade show and conference.
• The SourceLink and Let’s Do Business programs will be showcased at the Chamber’s Business After Hours event.
Tulsa’s Young Professionals
• Hosting an advisory council meeting.
• Completing the permitting process for Street CReD: Polishing the Pearl event.
• Touring a new temporary location with tenants for The Forge.
Education and workforce
• Hosting a Health Care Roundtable at Oklahoma Heart Institute Wednesday.
• Coordinating the Adult Enrollment Blitz at Tulsa Community College SE campus Wednesday.
• Meeting with PMI-Tulsa to discuss community collaboration.
• Conducting Oklahoma Scholars training for TPS and Union.
• Recruiting Oklahoma Scholars volunteers.
• Preparing March Partners In Education e-newsletter.
• Beginning prep for the Partners In Education Reception.
• Beginning prep for the Oklahoma Scholars dinner.
• Purchasing snacks for testing for Chouteau students.
• Attending the Lisa Delpit lecture at TU regarding the education gap.
Marketing and Communications
• Completing content for the Tulsa’s Future e-newsletter.
• Completing content for the monthly economic development e-newsletter.
• Drafting copy for the TYPros relocation guide.
• Creating content for the upcoming downtown development website.
• Beginning the State of Education script.
• Outlining content for the Tulsa’s Future annual meeting collaterals.
• Designing a direct mail piece for economic development targeting site consultants.
• Completing a number of the Chamber’s annual publications.
• Hosting a travel writer.
• Finalizing guides, signage to welcome visitors for NCAA Tournament.
• Writing advertorial copy for trade publications.
• Marketing Chamber’s Business After Hours networking event.
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.
Mattress Firm
Michael Yelich, Managing Partner
9318 E. 71st
Tulsa, OK 74133
Phone: 461.9510
www.mattressfirm.com
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