There’s good news and bad news when it comes to the Tulsa region’s economy.
First, the bad news: Job growth is down slightly. Total job growth this year is projected to be about 3,500.
The good news: Tulsa is in the running for five major projects. Together, that’s potentially 2,500 new, high-wage jobs, and one project comes with nearly $60 million in capital investment. Tulsa Regional Chamber’s Brien Thorstenberg said the region is heading in the right direction.
"It's getting us on the landscape for other projects of that magnitude," Thorstenberg said. "We haven't seen projects of this size and scope, both in terms of job creation and capital investment, in some time — really, ever."
Those five projects are four advanced manufacturing projects and one major headquarters. Thorstenberg said there’s good reason for these companies to be interested.
"Really, a lot that's going on in the city as well as the region in terms of quality improvements that are made to the downtown area, infrastructure improvements, the Vision package passing — those efforts have really made Tulsa a lot more attractive," Thorstenberg said. "Quality of place is very important."
One advanced manufacturing project could be announced before the end of the year. The other three could be announced early next year.
Thorstenberg said several existing businesses in the region are set to expand next year, too.
