|
Tulsa, six area chambers collaborate to create regional economic growth
Historic agreement to collaborate on projects and advocacy to benefit region
The Tulsa Metro Chamber and six area Chambers of Commerce signed a commitment to regional economic growth at a special ceremony on Friday. The compact includes the Chambers of Tulsa, Bixby, Broken Arrow, Jenks, Sapulpa, Sand Springs and Owasso.
“As metropolitan regions continue to expand throughout the United States, their boundaries begin to blur, and create a new scale of geography. These regions have interlocking economic systems, shared natural resources and connected transportation systems,” said Dr. Gerard Clancy, chair of the Tulsa Metro Chamber and president of The University of Oklahoma – Tulsa. “The Tulsa region has gained ground in our competition with regions in other states, but opportunities remain undiscovered to attract new residents, recruit capital investment, create new jobs, and improve the quality of life.”
Today’s global marketplace is creating an environment where regions must be proactive or else fall behind. The compact includes cooperation on both economic development and legislative initiatives and was created to leverage the region’s industry concentrations, labor pools, infrastructure and pro-business government in order to compete globally for a talented workforce, capital investment and new jobs.
To read more, click here.
Bixby Metro Chamber signing |
Jenks Chamber signing |
Sapulpa Chamber signing |
Sand Springs Chamber signing |
Owasso Chamber signing |
Broken Arrow Chamber signing-April |
The Tulsa Metro Chamber announces opposition to proposed city charter ballot changes
The Tulsa Metro Chamber opposes the Save Our Tulsa and Tulsa City Council proposed ballot changes to the Tulsa city charter. The Chamber specifically opposes the council's proposal for a city manager structure. Placing the mayor on the council seemingly alters the checks and balances of the legislative body. The Save Our Tulsa proposal to add three at-large councilors was not as inclusive as needed to afford the community the opportunity to participate in the discussion.
Altering the city charter requires deliberative study and debate from all nine city council districts in Tulsa. Continued discussion on challenges and solutions to move the city forward should be a community-wide process ensuring inclusivity and diversity of constituents, and if necessary, developing a timely and broad-based proposal.
To read more, click here.
U.S. Labor statistics show Oklahoma ranks high in job growth
Tulsa’s Future grows 1,271 new jobs in July
Regardless of recent difficult economic times across the country, Oklahoma continues to perform well in job growth and business creation, according to statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Oklahoma showed gains in business growth each year from 2006 to 2010 and was one of two states that ranked in the top 15 states in each year’s growth, according to the BLS report. The other state was Illinois.
The Chamber’s economic development program, Tulsa’s Future, provides assistance to local companies seeking to expand, actively recruit new businesses, and respond to increased inquiries from site-location consultants.
In July, Tulsa’s Future announced 1,271 new jobs and year-to-date the economic development team has assisted in the creation of 3,423 new jobs of which 1,080 have an average salary greater than $50,000, the minimum target goal.
According to Economic Research Manager Bob Ball, the Tulsa metro region has grown 7,600 jobs year-over-year from July 2010. The recent July jobs report sets the pace for a 1.5-percent growth in jobs over year 2010. This projected growth follows a 1.8-percent contraction in jobs in 2010.
To read more, click here.
OTA proceeds with plans to strengthen Tulsa metro's transportation infrastructure
Creek Turnpike expansion will support high traffic count
The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority received approval from the State Council of Bond Oversight for a $150 million bond issue that will be used to widen seven-mile sections of the Kilpatrick and Creek turnpikes.
A portion of the bond, $76 million, will be used to add lanes to the Creek Turnpike from U.S. 75 to Memorial Drive, which includes widening the bridge over the Arkansas River.
Tolls will not be increased to pay for the widening project, which helps to further modernize the Tulsa metro's infrastructure and ensure that Tulsans' transportation needs, present and future, are met.
Creek Turnpike traffic counts have been significantly higher than predicted during original construction. The turnpike, which loops south Tulsa from the Turner Turnpike to the Will Rogers Turnpike, provides south Tulsa easy access to the rest of the Tulsa metro.
The bond proposal will be paid off in 20 years. Construction is expected to begin in late April or early May of next year and it could take up to 22 months to complete the project.
Tulsa primary election approaching
The primary election for the city of Tulsa will be held September 13, 2011. All nine city council districts will be on the ballot. In the primary, Democrats and Republicans will decide who will represent their parties in the general election, November 8.
Primary elections in the city of Tulsa are partisan. Only registered Democratic voters are allowed to vote in the city of Tulsa Democratic Primary and only registered Republican voters are allowed to vote in the city of Tulsa Republican Primary. Voters who are registered as independent will not vote until the city of Tulsa general election scheduled for November 8, 2011.
There are only Republican primaries for districts 2, 5, 6, 8 and 9. Districts 3, 4 and 7 have Republican and Democrat primaries. District 1 has a Democratic primary.
Employers invited to participate in the Aerospace Job Fair Sept. 15
The Tulsa Metro Chamber will begin hosting a number of industry-specific job fairs in collaboration with regional organizations as part of its ongoing effort to assist local employers and companies in meeting their recruiting needs.
The first sector-specific job fair will be Sept. 15 and will focus on aerospace and aviation. The low-cost event is an efficient way for employers and recruiters to connect with potential employees of all levels.
The Chamber is partnering with Workforce Tulsa, Oklahoma Aerospace Alliance and Tulsa Tech to present the job fair, which will be advertised locally and nationally to potential employees.
For more information or to participate in the job fair, contact Denise Reid at DeniseReid@tulsachamber.com or 918.560.0255.
SEDC recognizes Chamber for outstanding communications
The Southern Economic Development Council recently recognized the Tulsa Metro Chamber for a number of communications efforts as part of the 2011 SEDC Communications Awards. The Chamber competed against its peers across the nation in the large division, winning the highest honor of “excellent” in three categories.
The awards, judged on the five criteria of graphic appeal, clarity of message, quality of information, positioning and information, and format, include a number of communications types ranging from advertisements to annual reports.
The Chamber received the excellent recognition in the category of publication advertising- campaigns for the Grow Metro Tulsa ad series; the category of annual report for its Tulsa’s Future 2010 annual report; and the category of direct mail campaigns for the Tulsa’s Future direct mail campaign. In the category for audiovisual, the Chamber received the honor of superior for its Tulsa Intermodal Transportation Options piece. The Tulsa’s Future monthly e-newsletter also received the merit honor in the category of internal communications package.
West Corp. to hire 150 new jobs
West Corporation plans to hire more than 150 full-time positions at its east Tulsa call center this fall. West Corp. provides outsourced communications services and will add customer care representatives to assist Alltel, one of its clients, as it expands to the Tulsa area.
The Chamber’s workforce attraction program, Choose Tulsa Jobs, is assisting West Corp. with candidate recruitment and has worked in recent months to link the call center with the resources needed for expansion.
According to the Chamber’s manager of economic research, Bob Ball, the 150 West Corp jobs can support 82 additional jobs throughout the Tulsa MSA. The total income supported by the 150 jobs is $9.1 million in the area economy.
For more information on Choose Tulsa Jobs, click here.
This week's top prioritiesExecutive Office
• Hosting press conference for City of Tulsa Charter Changes.
• Hosting Tulsa's Future II Municipality Investor meeting.
• Attending the Partners In Education Kickoff breakfast.
Economic Development
• Connecting with Freight Forwarders in regards to Certificate of Origin Policy.
• Hosting prospect to Tulsa.
• Meeting with site location consultants in the Chicago area.
Downtown Development
• Meetings to discuss creation of financial tools for downtown development.
Small Business
• Meeting with regional partners regarding BRE program.
• Attending the Pipeline Expo in Tulsa.
• Meeting with the Forge Advisory team.
Resource Development:
• Making investor relations calls.
• Conducting member data verifications.
• Planning annual membership survey.
Education and Workforce
• Partners In Education and Career Access College Readiness Kickoff events.
• Hosting aerospace job fair.
• Conduction North Tulsa workforce analysis.
TYPros
• Hosting city council meet and greet.
• Organizing photo shoot for new website launch.
• The Forge advisory council meeting.
Government Affairs
• Attending the Oklahoma State Chamber’s Legislative Advocacy Workshop.
• Hosting a regional mayor's night at the Tulsa Drillers stadium.
• Attending the TRUST Congressional Forum with Congressman James Lankford.
Tulsa Sports Commission
• Researching RFPs for future sports BIDs.
• Planning stages of upcoming Board Strategic planning and new member meet & greet.
• Fundraising event operations and marketing.
VisitTulsa
• NSU Hospitality Program Connection.
• Working on 2012 Visitors Guide.
• Welcoming the Tulsa Pipeline Expo and Ariat Reining Classic.
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.
New Members:
Adair Computer, LLC
Airflo Cooling Technologies / ACT
Bethel Collision Center
Capitol Benefits Group
Gitwit Creative
Green Cap Industries
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
November Sundays
Paradigm Group
Restore Hope Ministries
Showhomes Tulsa
Wagner and Williams, LLC
Adair Computer, LLC
Airflo Cooling Technologies / ACT
Ribbon Cuttings:
Advantage Staffing
Liz Brolick, Manager
6009 S. Mingo Road
Tulsa, OK 74146
Phone: 918.459.0802
www.hirethinking.com
|
|
|
