It was intriguing to see how Black entrepreneurs were building back up Tulsa, as a Black entrepreneur and founder myself, says Law, who was invited to be one of 842 members of Tulsa Remotes 2021 cohort. Its economy specializes in oil and gas, aerospace, and manufacturing. Well, It happened during the second lockdown in Los Angeles in 2020. At that point I had learned that they wanted me to live in Tulsa proper and our lifestyle is more suited to the suburbs. The George Kaiser Family Foundation created the Tulsa Remote program as a way to lure tech workers from around the country to Tulsa. During the first nine months we've been in the city, we have already: Joined the state-approved incubator at 36 Degrees North. The list wasnt topped by new remote hubs like Tulsa, but by Washington, DC, San Francisco, and Austin. In order to be eligible, applicants currently must reside outside of Oklahoma, be 18 years of age or older and can work and live in the United States. Because of our experience here, we decided in late 2021 to apply for the State-approved Incubator Program at 36 Degree Northwith our companyEvolusenand got in (more on that in another post)! Nervous about making the move? So any community involvement is what they want to hear. As a result, Lettieri says Tulsa hasnt suffered from many of the negative consequences associated with a rush of new, well-paid residents, such as a spike in housing prices and rising cost of living. Need some desk space to get things done? Tulsa Remote will also give you money to visit before moving, so you can see the apartments in person when you visit. Today I have my interview with the Tulsa Remote Program which was one of my selling points for moving to Tulsa. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Tulsa Remote is right for you. a.appendChild(r); That just didnt happen. For Tulsa Remote members, that means individuals are working for a company located outside of Oklahoma. Excited to see you all soon! In my hometown in Wilkinsburg, [part of the Pittsburgh metro area], there were a lot of promises made that the recruitment of tech talent would impact other places besides the city [of Pittsburgh], he said in an interview. The program wants to attract "talented and energetic people" to Tulsa who care about making a difference in their local community . I feel like every day is a surprise I literally find something new every day and my social life is even bigger than it was in New York. Tulsa Remote does not offer employment of any kind. Selected as part of the inaugural cohort of Endeavor's Heartland ScaleUp. A lot of that money stays in the local economy.. The interviewer asked a few standard questions like why I wanted to move to Tulsa, questions about my remote job, and if I had any questions or concerns about the city. The idea is that some may eventually start their own businesses and permanently relocate to Tulsa, according to Ken Levit, executive director of the George Kaiser Family Foundation. No, you are not eligible to apply if you recently moved to Oklahoma. It doesnt have much in the way of a technology sector. Simply just be yourself! I applied the day after apps opened and haven't heard back :( will email them. Tulsa Remote is designed for individuals who have full-time remote employment with a company outside of Oklahoma. I've visited Tulsa a couple times and I agree, you Tulsans are very welcoming. Let me know if you have any questions in the comment section below! What was your example? Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Apparently they only accept those who are interested in moving to Tulsa. Sign up to receive program updates and announcements from the Tulsa Remote team so you're always in the know. Three months after the move, Tomm switched jobs; she now works for a company in Michigan as a UX and design consultant. But LA is not bad in my personal experience, and I've lived there for over 20 years. The catch is that you have to work somewhere else. r.src=t+h._hjSettings.hjid+j+h._hjSettings.hjsv; Tulsa Remote, a program that provides $10,000 grants to remote workers who relocate to Tulsa, OK, has seen a 36% uptick in applications since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) in March. If selected for the program, do I have to live downtown? Well, this is when I tell you, you can't believe everything you read or watch on the internet. Tulsa is not the only city that offers remote workers cash in exchange for taking up residence, but researchers warn not every city stands to enjoy the same economic benefits in return. That kind of thing. So while I thought there would be more than one interview, it doesn't seem like it, unless visiting is mandatory with an in person interview happening at that time. The question is whether Tulsa can continue to attract remote workers when it has to compete with, say, Wichita, Kansas or Omaha, Nebraska. This is when we finally decided to make the move. The program was expected to bring in around 1,000 applicants and hopefully bring 50 people to Tulsa. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. I haven't heard anything bad about it yet other than it's tough to get accepted. Rent - $658 Tulsa vs. $1,475 Denver, 2 BR Avg. Psst: Our $10,000 grant can now be received as a lump sum upon the purchase of a home! Creatives mold the vibrant culture in Tulsa. And they estimate every dollar spent on the program creates $13 in economic activity. Though Remoters have higher paying jobs than the average Tulsa resident, they roughly mirror the citys racial makeup. Tulsa has a great cost of living, and likely cheaper housing than where you currently live. To qualify, you must be a full-time remote worker or self-employed outside of the state. Rent - $658 Tulsa vs. $2,069 Seattle, 2 BR Avg. On top of the cash subsidies, the program, dubbed "Tulsa Remote," comes with a free membership to 36 Degrees North, a co-working space in the city, which ordinarily charges members $149 per month or more. The Oklahoma city is the focal point of Tulsa Remote, a program offering a $10,000 grant and additional incentives to selected participants to move and work remotely from Tulsa for a year. / CBS News. What types of incentives are program participants receiving? Rent - $658 Tulsa vs. $4,088 New York, 2 BR Avg. Google AdSense , Prithwiraj Choudhury, a professor at Harvard Business School who. Ive never been to Tulsa and want to visit before I make the move. Needless to say, I didnt get accepted. This means we will be spending at least another year in Tulsa and will be growing our company here in the city. Privacy Policy. I asked about the next steps, and was told they meet to talk about how many spots are left and decide yes or no on those interviewed for the week. There are lots of smaller cities that can offer inexpensive housing. In a recent study, Prithwiraj Choudhury, a professor at Harvard Business School who studies remote work, found that Tulsa Remoters have higher real incomes (after accounting for living costs) than they did before the move likely driven in large part by cheaper housing. Over 90% stay beyond the year., Since moving to Tulsa this past June, Law has herself hired four locals, and has no intention of leaving once her term is up in the summer of 2022. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Less like a job interview, more like a first date. Yes, the program involves cutting checks to mostly well-educated, well-paid knowledge workers. Andre Perry, a researcher at Brookings who studies urban development and inequality, supports the basic idea of attracting knowledge workers but cautions that it doesnt always deliver. Am I eligible to apply? First published on November 14, 2018 / 2:09 PM. Hi, I have my semi-finalist interview day after tomorrow. Cookie Notice The city is also aiming to become one of the country's largest technology and business hubs. Anyone can schedule a Guided Tour at their convenience. ". Launched in November 2018, the program aims at attracting individuals who already. Rent - $658 Tulsa vs. $2,415 Portland, 2 BR Avg. It means that if you are open to making new friends or joining a new community of like-minded individuals then this is for you. But what makes Tulsa's program unique is its focus on remote workers. To make your move easier we've curated the best local apartments, centered around our thriving remote community at the heart of Tulsa. For more information, please see our I had major cabin fever since we were cramped in our tiny apartment that we spent way too much for. Sen & I live in Downtown Tulsa, where we can walk to most places. With community workshops, art showings, local fabrication spaces and unique shops, the opportunities to express yourself are endless. "So many people share with us that they're attracted to potentially moving here, especially from people in more expensive cities," wrote Levit in an email to CBS News on Wednesday. Tulsa Remote is a case study in how remote work can shift economic development, and it paints a hopeful picture for smaller cities. The median home price in Tulsa is $157,20043% below the national average! a=o.getElementsByTagName('head')[0]; So after some cocktails by Bartender Sen, I started browsing the internet, and I came upon the Tulsa Remote Program. We are still documenting and gathering data for all the ways the program has helped our community, said Bolzle. So when the 29-year-old entrepreneur was deciding where to launch her video-based social network for anime and geek fandom, QuirkChat, she had a lot of options to consider. In my opinion, one of the biggest perks of Tulsa Remote is the community the team has built. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. What are my options? Tulsa Remote does not sell your data. "This is about getting people to move to Tulsa," said Matt Fabian, a partner at Massachusetts-based Municipal Market Analytic, in a telephone interview with CBS News on Wednesday. The theory of Tulsa Remote was that with a little enticement, remote workers would be drawn to lower living costs. Since 2018, the Tulsa Remote program has offered remote workers moving to Tulsa $10,000 in cash, a desk at a local co-working space, and help finding housing. Tulsa has been really great, and we do plan to buy a house next year.. LET THEM ENTICE YOU WITH THAT GRANT. Any individual who meets the eligibility criteria is welcome to apply, even if they are members of the same family or have a relationship with one another. We've designed community building programming, events and meetups to help you engage with the organizations, local nonprofits and individuals that are working to make Tulsa the best it can be. Since 2018, nearly 1,300 talented individuals have joined our ranks, found home in Tulsa, and are helping shape one of Americas greatest cities. Rent - $658 Tulsa vs. $1,500 Chicago, 2 BR Avg. What's happening: It all started in 2018 with Tulsa Remote, . Who is the ideal candidate for this program? I had my semi finalist interview last Thursday. When is the earliest people are accepted to move to Tulsa? Tulsa, Oklahoma, wants you to move there and is offering $10,000 to sweeten the deal. As Perry writes in his 2020 book Know Your Price, the success of local economic development programs requires bridge-building across communities within a city and the involvement of local residents in the planning process. They get 1,000 applications a week and interview 200-300 candidates on Zoom. Tulsa Mayor G.T. Our consideration for moving to Tulsa is 100% because of the Tulsa Remote Program! Good luck and when it works out for you.Congratulations and welcome to Tulsa. You are 18+ years old. We finally went in mid-March 2021 and spent six days in Tulsa to check out the city and to apartment hunt. Sen & I moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, from Los Angeles, California, in May 2021 with theTulsa Remote(TR). Our mission has always been to attract talented and diverse individuals from across the country to Tulsa and get them connected to the existing community, said Tulsa Remote Executive Director Aaron Bolzle. Full-time remote employment or self-employed outside of Oklahoma. I hope to be joining you soon :), Emphasize your desire to shop locally. A community for Tulsa Oklahoma and surrounding areas. by the Economic Innovation Group, a think tank, estimated Tulsa Remotes effect on the citys economy using standard models of economic development. What was your final outcome? 2 BR Avg. Thats especially true when the program involves attracting outsiders. The participants report no decrease in productivity since moving. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Those who are interested in moving to Tulsa and hold a full-time remote job based outside of Oklahoma can apply for this program. Interesting that you say that. Although the groups arent exactly comparable, the idea was that the differences between them provide decent estimates of how Tulsa Remote has affected those involved. We created Tulsa Remote to enhance Tulsa's talented and successful workforce community by bringing diverse, bright and driven individuals to the city for community building, collaboration and networking. Lettieri explains that prior to Tulsa Remote, the city had a negative net migration of about 1,200 per year, and the majority of people leaving were college-educated. MailChimp Pop-up Explore Philbrook and its formal gardens, get lost in one of the world's largest collections of Native American and Western art at Gilcrease, or stroll through multiple galleries during Tulsa's free monthly Art Crawl in the Arts District. The conversation was short and easy. window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);}gtag('js', new Date());gtag('set', 'developer_id.dZjQwMz', true);gtag('config', 'UA-115877007-1'); Recommended for you Cobot en espaol Far less congestion than cities like Austin, Atlanta and Dallas. h._hjSettings={hjid:1812585,hjsv:6}; Hopefully those who come across this post will have better luck. We were still hesitant since we'd never even been to Oklahoma. After I applied, I actually forgot about it, half thanks to the cocktails, half because I didn't think we would get in. In my hometown in Wilkinsburg, [part of the Pittsburgh metro area], there were a lot of promises made that the recruitment of tech talent would impact other places besides the city [of Pittsburgh], he said in an interview. The George Kaiser Family Foundation is funding the program in its entirety and expects to spend somewhere between $250,00 to $500,000 in 2019 on 20 to 25 program recipients, but there's no hard limit to how many the program will welcome. Tomm and her husband had decided their family needed a change after some personal tragedies. (To its credit, GKFF has other programs focused on poverty alleviation, racial equity, and job creation in Tulsa.). As well as things are going so far, Tulsa Remote raises a big question that crops up in any plan to attract new companies or industries: Why not just give the money to Tulsas existing citizens? Sen and I didn't visit Tulsa right away. Fast Company & Inc 2023 Mansueto Ventures, LLC, Tulsa paid people $10k to move there and work remotely. They do ask about your salary, so dont let that catch you off guard. Food, housing, transport, healthcare, etc. , the success of local economic development programs requires bridge-building across communities within a city and the involvement of local residents in the planning process. I was selected as a semifinalist for the Tulsa Remote program and my interview is next week. Better binge watch your favorite shows before you get here. along the same lines in 2018 and its success will ensure that it isnt the last. The city's population was 401,800 in 2017, a 2.2 percent increase from 2000. How did that go? All episodes. They are spending some of that time volunteering in the local community. A second analysis by the Economic Innovation Group, a think tank, estimated Tulsa Remotes effect on the citys economy using standard models of economic development. You are 18+ years old. No. Tulsa Remote participants were more likely to say they intend to stay where they currently live than the candidates who were accepted but didnt end up moving. Remote workers have high-paying jobs, and that income trickles out into Tulsa as they spend it. Google Analytics Any advice for the interview?? Nov 14-Notified of semi-finalist status, scheduled interview for Nov 26th via calendly. By signing up, I give Tulsa Remote permission to send me periodic news, marketing and updates. You have full-time remote employment or are self-employed outside of Oklahoma. While we try to accept a wide variety of movers and shakers into our program, we, unfortunately, can't invite everyone. I use apartments.com. And theyre encouraged to get to know the people in their neighborhood and become involved within their communities. Each grant is distributed over the course of a year to eligible remote workers or entrepreneurs living outside of Oklahoma. We lived in LA for over twenty years and have many friends and family members there. Dec 4-Notified of finalist status, filled out background check form and informed that once that cleared would be invited to come in person to check Tulsa out. Tulsa Remote helped welcome and connect us to the city from the day we arrived. Claire Tomm decided to apply to Tulsa Remote after hearing about it from a friend whod participated. , this one reporting which cities had the highest share of work done from home. It was one of the most widely publicized bids by a city to become a hub for remote work and so far, its succeeding, according to two recent studies of the program. to the local community at least when housing costs dont rise enough to cancel out those benefits. In July, she and her husband bought a house. The initiative resulted in getting than 10,000 applications from over 150 countries. We had to decide very quickly what to keep, donate or toss. The Tulsa metro area is home to one million people, but its population growth has been slower than many other midsize cities in recent years. If anyone has any questions hit me up happy to answer. Static.COOKIE_BANNER_CAPABLE = true; Thoughts on the program itself would also be useful. Individuals must be at least 18 years of age to apply. Tulsa Remote was estimated to add $62 million in new local earnings in 2021 $51.3 million directly attributable to relocated remote workers and $10.7 million from the employment boost . This is an important part of the local economic development strategy, and the fact that it was designed and backed by a key local institution, in partnership with other local stakeholders, is a big part of the battle.. The researchers estimate that one new full-time job was created in Tulsa for every two Remoters who moved there. Our members are the best part of our program. Along with the introduction of Tulsa Remote, 2018 has ushered in other community-related initiatives in Tulsa. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Part of the reason why the program has proven so successful is that remote workers in big cities often struggle to find a sense of community. The Tulsa Remote team reviews each application. We'd love to get you the information and resources you need to take the leap to move to Tulsa. What to Expect When Visiting Horseshoe Bend, Arizona, Top 6 Things to Do in Oklahoma City: 48-Hour Guide. This major public-private partnership to develop the citys waterfront, the fact that theres a burgeoning art scene, I think Tulsa was positioned well, not just because of its size, but because of the assets and amenities that are here that people just didnt know about previously.. It takes roughly 13 minutes max to get anywhere in Tulsa; in any other city, that's the minimum time it takes to drive 0.6 miles. Thats the logic that leads EIGs models to estimate such a high payoff for Tulsa Remote. They received nearly that many in one day with inquiries from more than 200 countries and . If selected for the program, how soon can I move? While there are many housing options available downtown, participants are free to live anywhere within the Tulsa city limits, including purchasing or renting single-family homes. It is no coincidence that the program has sought to attract roughly the same number of new residents. Tulsa Remote is not able to aid in the acquisition or approval of such credentials (work visas, etc.). Tulsa Remote introduces these newcomers to others by partnering with local organizations to host regular events and meetups to help these newcomers get better acquainted. Follow us for travel tips, photos of different destinations in the US and inspiration~, Dig for Crystals at the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma. Can Tulsa remain a draw for remote workers if other cities copy its model? The Tulsa Remote program, however, is not necessarily the right program for all cities hoping to attract highly paid remote workers. The program requires selected participants to move within 12 months of being accepted and completing the required verification steps. I remember seeing programs like this a few years back and thought it would be an incredible life experience. Wealth in Tulsa is lower than national averages, according to the 2015 American Communities Survey. Our current mission is to road trip and eat around the USA. I got an email from Tulsa Remote about a week later notifying me that I am a semifinalist and am advancing to the next step with a video interview that happened within the same week. It doesnt have much in the way of a technology sector, and it has a smaller share of residents with a college degree than the U.S. as a whole. Its a grant of $10,000 over the span of a year plus some other perks. We're confident you'll fall in love but want to make sure we're looking for the same things. I just got accepted and am looking for advice on where to move. More than 2,000 people have moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma because of Tulsa Remote, a program that pays remote workers $10,000 to move. Your a Midwesterner. And if you're selected, you'll have to relocate to Tulsa within the calendar year. function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} Space to run, play, climb and slide. The question is whether Tulsa can continue to attract remote workers when it has to compete with, say, Wichita, Kansas or Omaha, Nebraska. Winter is chilly with chances of snow (and winter storm). By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Funding is currently provided by the George Kaiser Family Foundation. Don't just take our word for it. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. (function(h,o,t,j,a,r){ Once youve been accepted into the program and completed the required verification steps, youll receive information about the option to join us in Tulsa for a self-guided or hosted visit. And two recent studies suggest the investment was worth it. It inspired us to think of other ways to bring people into the equation, and remote work was an interesting venue.. IF YOU TELL THEM YOU ALREADY HAVE PLANS TO MOVE HERE, YOU WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFIED.