Tulsa region among nation’s top in 2011 job creation

12.29.2011
The Tulsa region leaped ahead of the nation in 2011, earning accolades for its impressive job creation, economic performance and more. Through the Tulsa Metro Chamber’s Tulsa’s Future plan, more than 8,200 jobs were created in 2011; of which more than 4,000 were above the initiative’s target income of $50,000 or greater, annually.

The jobs that exceeded the target annual income of $50,000 or greater support additional jobs with an estimated income totaling more than $295 million, according to Tulsa Metro Chamber Economist Bob Ball.

“It takes a dynamic region that is committed to promoting business and to remaining business-friendly to ensure that companies are given every opportunity to grow and expand their workforces,” said Tulsa Metro Chamber President and CEO Mike Neal. “The Tulsa Metro Chamber and its many steadfast partners in economic development look forward to building upon the successes of this year to ensure the Tulsa area remains one of the nation’s top leaders in job creation.”

Neal added: “Also, recognition is due to the Chamber’s economic development team, and the leadership of Jim Fram, the Tulsa Metro Chamber’s senior vice president of economic development, for the stellar work they’ve accomplished in bringing many of these job-creating projects to fruition.”

The Tulsa Metro Chamber’s Tulsa’s Future job creation initiative Tulsa’s Future, the Tulsa Metro Chamber’s privately-funded job creation initiative, has a goal to create 10,000 primary jobs at an annual salary of $50,000 or greater over a five-year period from 2011-2015. The 10,000 primary jobs will lead to the creation of an additional 16,000 indirect jobs, totaling the formation 26,000 new jobs within the region. Tulsa’s Future is building a unique, high-performance regional economy by mobilizing private-sector leadership and public partnerships. More than 120 public and private sector regional partners support the Tulsa Metro Chamber’s economic development efforts through the Tulsa’s Future initiative.

Jim Fram, senior vice president of the Chamber’s economic development division, said: “The diverse group of regional partners, including area cities, counties, tribes, chambers and businesses, that comprise our Tulsa’s Future partnership greatly enhance our effectiveness in creating economic growth in the Tulsa region. The support and expertise of these groups represents a tremendous asset to our ongoing job creation efforts.”

Fram cited many success stories of 2011’s economic development efforts as examples of effective regional partnership in action. One such example was the opening of FlightSafety International Inc.’s new $42 million, 375,000-square-foot flight simulator manufacturing facility in Broken Arrow. Up to 1,000 people could be employed at the facility. Fram congratulated the City of Broken Arrow, the Broken Arrow Area Chamber of Commerce and Broken Arrow Development Authority on this major project.

Existing Business Development/New Business Recruitment
The Tulsa Metro Chamber’s nationally-recognized economic development division continued its peer-to-peer outreach Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) program, increasing the number of existing business visits from 603 in 2010 to an impressive 700 visits in 2011, representing 53,000 employees in the Tulsa metro area. Chamber staff visited 24 local companies’ out-of-state headquarters.

Staff submitted 32 comprehensive relocation proposals in response to prospect inquiries and hosted 29 prospect site visits in the Tulsa region. The economic development team made more than 30 business recruitment trips.



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