How Tulsa Is Funding a Metropolitan Makeover In September 2003, a majority of Tulsa area voters approved a series of four propositions aimed at stimulating economic development and improving the community. They agreed to a one-penny sales tax increase for 13 years in order to fund a spate of new community-improvement projects and to lure and retain aviation industry projects. The plan, dubbed "Vision 2025: Foresight 4 Greater Tulsa" (www.vision2025.info), drew widespread support from the citizens — each proposition passed with more than 60 percent of the vote.       One of the propositions funded a $350-million incentives package to lure the Boeing 787 Dreamliner assembly project, which ultimately went to Washington State. A second funded $22.3 million in incentives to keep American Airlines from relocating its massive maintenance operations from Tulsa International Airport. The carrier employs 9,000 people in the Tulsa area. American Airlines' maintenance operations are based at Tulsa International Airport.       Other projects to see funding from Vision 2025 include renovation of the Tulsa Convention Center and construction of an 18,000-seat events center designed by world-renowned architect Cesar Pelli. An American Indian Cultural Center is to be built on the west bank of the Arkansas River, and Route 66 will see funds to promote tourism and enhance economic development along the historic highway. Also on the cultural front, $4 million will help expand the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, which will include a museum, practice facilities, a walk of fame, performance hall and other amenities.       Research Centers Will Add Diversity to Area EconomyOn the higher education front, Oklahoma State University at Tulsa (OSU-Tulsa) will build a $42-million advanced technology research center for basic and applied research, which will help launch new companies in the region and attract scholars and researchers from around the world. Similarly, the University of Oklahoma at Tulsa will build a state-of-the-art research and medical and clinical care facility, which will greatly expand the medical services available in the region and increase the number of medical students and residents moving through the university system. Each institution is to receive $30 million for these projects and for related programs under the Vision 2025 plan. Cesar Pelli designed Tulsa's 18,000-seat events center.       The goal is to diversify further the area's economy by adding information technology and medicine to Tulsa's strengths in aerospace, energy and telecommunications. "It's real hard to create a high-tech environment if you don't have the educational institutions in place," says Gary Trennepohl, Ph.D., president of OSU-Tulsa. The high-tech environment he speaks of involves the private sector as well as newly minted alliances between educational institutions. "Historically, universities have not been that partnership-oriented with industry, and that's changing," says Trennepohl.       Many other projects are included in Vision 2025, from municipal park improvements to new or improved community centers to community college expansions to shoreline beautification projects. The residents of the Tulsa area clearly believe in the importance of investing in their city and region.       "Quality of life is the leading issue for most companies today that are looking for talent," says Darcy Melendez, director, area development, at the Tulsa Metro Chamber. "For a long time, we talked a lot about being one of the least-cost places to do business, but when you look around, you see talent going to some of the highest-cost places to live or do business. Business is following them there. You have to be a world-class place in which to live, and Tulsans have said, 'That's what we're going to do.'" To learn more, visit www.tulsachamber.com.

TOP OF PAGE