Chamber Announces Economic Plan To Brighten 'Tulsa's Future'

Tulsa has added nearly 24,000 new jobs since 2011; it's a number the Tulsa Chamber is very proud of.

Monday, Governor Mary Fallin made the trip to hear all about the next phase of an economic development plan that will push Tulsa through 2020.

The program is simply called Tulsa's Future and Monday night, the chamber announced phase three - with a campaign goal of $21 million.

All the money will be used towards keeping businesses in the area, recruiting new ones and hiring the best, most skilled workforce possible.

Max Scheder-Bieschin is 23 years old and from California, but he's in Tulsa as one of the 24,000 new hires since 2011.

“I can tell you I didn't imagine I would end up in Tulsa, Oklahoma," he said. "Over the last year and a half it's turned out a lot better than expected."

Monday, in front of the governor and hundreds of chamber investors and partners, a promise was made to keep the momentum going.

Phase three of Tulsa's Future will sink $21 million partly into recruiting businesses.

"We moved our corporate headquarters last fall from Houston to Tulsa because we like the state and it is a great place to work and operate," said Mark Eck with Midstates Petroleum.

Macy's had a similar thought - close to 2,000 people will be hired at its new fulfillment center.

"We are just doing everything we can to get them to come here and look at us, because once they take a look we think we can win them over," said Mike Neal with the Tulsa Regional Chamber.

It's not all about the new it's about retaining what is already here; especially with the oil and gas industry in such a volatile state.

"It's tough because the oil capital of the world is Houston but there's a lot of people that want to be here," Eck said.

Money will also go towards downtown development, to entice a young, talented workforce.

"If you look at the cost of living and how much there is to do here, I thought it wouldn't be a bad option to come here and build up a base," Scheder-Bieschin said.

With the help of all the investors and community leaders, Tulsa's future looks pretty bright.

"I just think it is a very exciting time to be in Tulsa and if you want to grow with a city its a phenomenal place to be," Scheder-Bieschin said.

The Chamber president also hinted that it is close to finalizing a couple business agreements he says are comparable to the Macy's deal.