Tulsa Metro Chamber :: Newsletter Archive

07.11.11
IN THIS ISSUE Tulsa Sports Commission announces international soccer tournament City, state revenues spike State House to conduct 80 interim studies Report results to be made public Nominations for Tulsa’s Fast 50 due July 15 This week’s top three: Chamber welcomes new businesses		PRESENTING SPONSORS

Tulsa Sports Commission announces international soccer tournament

Ray Hoyt, senior vice president of VisitTulsa and executive director of Tulsa Sports Commission, was joined by Eddie Marles, A.C. Milan Youth Program coordinator for North and Latin America, and Alex Alston, Tulsa Sports Commission director of sales, at a press conference last Friday to announce the creation of an international youth soccer tournament in Tulsa.

The Tulsa Sports Commission is creating and hosting the tournament in partnership with A.C. Milan, an international soccer club. The tournament is scheduled for Memorial Day weekend, May 25-28, 2012, and will feature three Milan Junior League Elite teams comprised of youth ages 11-14.

“We have been working with Eddie and the A.C. Milan organization for several months to put this together and are thrilled to be able to make the announcement today,” said Hoyt. “This is a great opportunity for Tulsa to not only host a major international youth event, but to be able to partner with the world’s leading soccer club. This opens Tulsa up to an entirely new audience and once again puts us on an international stage attracting visitors who wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to see our great city.”

The tournament is expected to draw 60-80 national and international youth teams with 1,800 – 2,100 people. Competition will take place over four days and is estimated to have a $2.8 million economic impact. Organizers are still determining the name, location and sponsorship opportunities. Details will be released as they become available.

To see news clips from Friday’s press conference, click here.

City, state revenues spike

A recent article in the Tulsa World reported that the state of Oklahoma is growing at a faster pace, according to State Treasurer Ken Miller.

In the article State revenue jumps 15.5 percent, Miller attributes the state’s rebound to the oil and natural gas industry. He states every major revenue category shows growth and collections for the last 12 months are up 8 percent.

Click here to read the full story.

On a local note, the Chamber’s economist, Bob Ball, provided the following update on the city of Tulsa: sales tax collections returned to the city were 7.1 percent above budget for fiscal year 2011, which ended June 30, and 2.5 percent above collections for fiscal year 2010.

“This indicates steady growth in the Tulsa-area economy, outpacing city expectations,” said Ball. “Income is strong and Tulsa-area consumers are willing and able to spend it in all retail sectors, including automobile repairs and household durable goods to food and drink and other entertainment away from home.”

State House to conduct 80 interim studies
Report results to be made public

House Speaker Kris Steele announced last week the Oklahoma House of Representatives will conduct 80 interim studies covering a range of subjects including public safety, education, government operations, health care and natural resources.

The reports from these studies will be made public and be archived in an effort to improve the legislative process and increase transparency.

“The interim study process affords legislators time for in-depth exploration needed to develop positive public policies,” said Steele. “I fully expect some of the best work the Legislature does next year to be born out of the interim study process we are beginning this year.”

To see a list of the interim studies, visit the House website here.

Nominations for Tulsa’s Fast 50 due July 15

Nominations for the Journal Record’s Tulsa’s Fast 50 awards are due Friday, July 15. Honorees will be featured in the Tulsa’s Fast 50 publication and be celebrated at an awards dinner Tuesday, November 8.

Companies must have been in business for three years, be for-profit, privately owned, and headquartered and operated in the Tulsa metro area, have operating revenues or sales of at least $1 million and must not be a holding company, regulated bank or utility.

Click here for more information, to nominate a company or to attend the awards reception.

Mayor Dewey F. Bartlett Jr., joined by representatives of the Brady Arts District Owners Association, Downtown Coordinating Council and the Tulsa Metro Chamber, announced last week a major step for revitalization and increased economic development in downtown Tulsa. Construction is scheduled to begin in September on a new Boulder Avenue bridge spanning the downtown BNSF railroad tracks and linking First Street to Archer Street.

“Building the new bridge between the downtown core and the historic Brady Arts District, which is undergoing rapid revitalization, is the latest infrastructure improvement for this area,” Mayor Bartlett said. “The new Boulder bridge will provide a needed link, for both vehicles and pedestrians, between the restaurants, entertainment venues and cultural attractions in the Brady District and ONEOK Field, the BOK Center and other portions of the downtown area.”

The bridge will connect the Brady Arts District with downtown, and the existing Boulder Avenue continues the connection south to Veterans Park near the Arkansas River. This will provide direct access and link downtown office workers and visitors with restaurants, entertainment and art activities in the Brady Arts District.

The old Boulder Avenue bridge, built in 1929, was closed to traffic a decade ago and was demolished in 2009. The new Boulder bridge will have four lanes to accommodate both north- and southbound traffic and will include an extra-wide sidewalk for pedestrian use. It also fits in the overall downtown master plan, designed with transit potential as a downtown trolley route.

Visit www.TulsaDowntown.org for more artist renderings and details.

This week’s top three:

Executive:
• Tulsa’s Future II CEO follow up calls.
• Preparing for executive committee meeting.
• Hosting city councilors small group luncheon.

Education/Workforce:
• Meeting with Tulsa Community Foundation regarding PASS.
• Meeting with NSU-Broken Arrow to discuss new adult college program.
• Meeting with Cherokee Nation and Workforce Tulsa to discuss programs and collaboration.

TYPros:
• Working with The Forge advisory and selection committee to review new tenants.
• Hosting the third and final summer intern series.
• Reviewing new website design.

Government Affairs:
• Hosting OneVoice taskforce meetings.
• Hosting city council group box luncheon.
• Attending legislative interim study on state tax incentives.

VisitTulsa:
• Attending the Oklahoma State Association of Executives’ annual conference.
• Quarterly meeting with director of sales and marketing from the Tulsa region.
• Attending the SMG/VisitTulsa sales staff meeting.

Tulsa Sports Commission:
• Preparing bids for a potential nationally-televised event and national youth event.
• Meeting with Steve Hobbs to devise sponsorship program for AC Milan international soccer tournament May 25-27, 2012. Also, determining name and logo for event.
• Meeting with Ed Sheakley of OSSAA to discuss high school championships.

Economic Development
• Call trip to Dallas and attend CoreNet Global Southwest Board Meeting.
• Planning retreat for governor's economic development team.
• Economic development meetings with aerospace-related companies.

Small Business
• Identifying growth opportunities with local manufacturer and energy company.
• Representing small business needs in OneVoice task force process.
• Touring Fab Lab Tulsa.

Community Development
• Participating on task force to review state tax credits and economic incentives at the state Capitol.

Chamber welcomes new businesses

Each 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.

New Members:
Casino Hospitality Design & Consultant
Eco Green Mobile Detailing
Fat Guys Burger Bar
Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches
Platinum Technology Group
Seaborn Grip & Electric, Inc.
Spectrum Paint Company

Ribbon Cutting:

Tulsa Country Club
Jason Fiscus, General Manager
701 N. Union Avenue
Tulsa, OK 74127
Phone: 918.585.8151
www.tulsacountryclub.com

IN THIS ISSUE