Google Analytics This is not a one-size-fits-all solution.. From academics to engineers, you're sure to find your "people" in Tulsa. As we considered why Tulsa has been successful, I think its a lot of the place-making attributes that the foundation and the city have been focussed on over the last decade or so, he says. Even before the pandemic, the program was having great. No. Events relating to Tulsa Remote program extends to events to help participants get to know their [+] communities better. 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 . Tulsa Remote is designed for individuals who have full-time remote employment with a company outside of Oklahoma. I do think it had. Claire Tomm decided to apply to Tulsa Remote after hearing about it from a friend whod participated. The program brings remote workers and digital nomads to the community by providing $10,000 grants and numerous community-building opportunities. I did not get accepted because I already had plans to move to Tulsa. All episodes. Today, Tulsa's quality of place is resonating with applicants to an innovative program called Tulsa Remote. 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. The . In 2018, the George Kaiser Family Foundation launched Tulsa Remote, a program for people who can do their jobs from anywhere in the country. . I'm a travel blogger, and photographer, recently moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma from Los Angeles, California with my husband Sen, our cat Shadow, and dog Lumi. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Just in case anyone is planning on applying: DO NOT TELL THEM YOU ARE OR HAVE PLANS TO MOVE TO TULSA. But what makes Tulsa's program unique is its focus on remote workers. We know remote arrangements take planning. Our consideration for moving to Tulsa is 100% because of the Tulsa Remote Program! 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? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The city is also aiming to become one of the country's largest technology and business hubs. , Prithwiraj Choudhury, a professor at Harvard Business School who. How long did it take to find out they were interested, after applying? Dec 20-Email received with details for scheduling in person visit. I had major cabin fever since we were cramped in our tiny apartment that we spent way too much for. But what makes Tulsa's program unique is its focus on remote workers. Tulsa has been really great, and we do plan to buy a house next year.. var message="Function Disabled! May 04, 2021. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. During the first nine months we've been in the city, we have already: Joined the state-approved incubator at 36 Degrees North. I enjoy going to all the member meetups TR arranges and free drinks, plus we get to check out different restaurants, bars, and even sporting events in the city. A program paid workers $10,000 to relocate to Tulsa. From the historic Cain's Ballroom and Brady Theater, to the award-winning BOK Center and up-and-coming Duet Jazz Club, Tulsa's music scene continues to be a thriving component of its unique culture. 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. Last September, A Gathering Place came into fruition as an inclusive riverfront parkwith a childrens adventure playground, a skate park, restaurants and gathering spots. There does seem to be a sweet-spot nature, not just to the size of the Tulsa metro, but other characteristics in terms of their domestic migration pattern, [and] in terms of their lagging in a certain segment of their workforce, says EIG s president and CEO, John Lettieri. Also reason for wanting to move to Tulsa. ". You may opt-out by. The catch is that you have to work somewhere else. The goal is to reach at least 250. Last year, while researching the Tulsa Massacre, Law came across an ad for a program called Tulsa Remote, which enticed remote workers and entrepreneurs to the mid-sized Oklahoman city with a $10,000 relocation stipend. What kind of remote work do you do? Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. I remember seeing programs like this a few years back and thought it would be an incredible life experience. Tulsa Remote is intended for individuals who reside outside of Oklahoma at the time of application. 36 Degrees North, a dynamic coworking space in Downtown Tulsa, provides a place to get work done and collaborate with other local entrepreneurs and remote workers. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. LET THEM ENTICE YOU WITH THAT GRANT. You are 18+ years old. Jared Lindzon is a freelance journalist and public speaker born, raised and based in Toronto, Canada. Rent - $658 Tulsa vs. $2,248 San Diego, 2 BR Avg. Tulsa Remote is intended for individuals who work remotely for an organization that is not based in Oklahoma. })(window,document,'https://static.hotjar.com/c/hotjar-','.js?sv='); However, what really has made Tulsa "fantastic" for me, is how well . While the program is only a one-year commitment, the ideal candidate is open to calling Tulsa their home long-term. But there are outstanding questions about the program, too.. Tulsa Remote has already grown significantly since the start of 2021 and intends to build upon these economic impacts and expand further in the . The researchers estimate that one new full-time job was created in Tulsa for every two Remoters who moved there. 2021 Tulsa Remote. The answer seems to be they have more time to do almost everything, he said in an interview, because they spend less time commuting. No Right Clicks Tulsa Remote will also give you money to visit before moving, so you can see the apartments in person when you visit. Since its founding in 2018, Tulsa Remote has brought nearly 1,300 remote workers to town, and a new study suggests that the investment is paying off. With hundreds of acres of wilderness areas, urban parks and greenspaces, Tulsa offers countless opportunities to get outside, get some fresh air and explore. Since I had a remote job at the time, we might qualify. Lettieri and Fikri emphasize that the wrong takeaway from the experiment is that any city can enjoy the same economic benefits by offering cash incentives to remote workers. The people in the community all share similar personality traits. That just didnt happen. Individuals must be at least 18 years of age to apply. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Anyone can schedule a Guided Tour at their convenience. Tulsa Remote does not offer employment of any kind. , 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. Tulsa Remote is not the only program of its kind the state of Vermont announced a much-publicized subsidy along the same lines in 2018 and its success will ensure that it isnt the last. Are there any age restrictions to apply for the Tulsa Remote program? No. We finally went in mid-March 2021 and spent six days in Tulsa to check out the city and to apartment hunt. It's a model that would work well for high-income, potentially transient residents like the ones Tulsa Remote may attract who rent rather than own property. Though Remoters have higher paying jobs than the average Tulsa resident, they roughly mirror the citys racial makeup. Bee Law has called many corners of the United States home. Launched in November 2019 by the George Kaiser Family Foundation, the Tulsa Remote program paid out-of-state residents $10,000 to pickup and move to Tulsa. The participants report no decrease in productivity since moving. Absolutely. to the local community at least when housing costs dont rise enough to cancel out those benefits. The Tulsa Remote program started in 2018, and its core activity is the attraction of talented individuals to Tulsa (Oklahoma) via providing a financial incentive of $10,000 for remote. So we planned for a 7-day journey making multiple stops along the way like Zion National Park, Horseshoe Bend, Shiprock, New Mexico, etc. 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. No. That November, Mother Road Market opened as the citys first food hall with over 20 food and retail concepts plus a commercial kitchen space. Not a week goes by without hearing from one city thats thinking of this, everyone from Alaska to Hawaii to Georgia to New York State, he says. I haven't heard anything bad about it yet other than it's tough to get accepted. You are not eligible for the program if youre in process of buying a home or renting an apartment. The job came with a raise, which was amplified by the lower cost of living. Transcript. To be considered for the Tulsa Remote program, we ask that applicants meet all four eligibility requirements: You can move to Tulsa within the next 12 months. With many programs like TR, 36 Degrees North Incubator, Endeavor ScaleUp, TechStars, Venture for America, and local venture capital firms, etc., to bring in ideas, talents, and funds to make that vision a reality. No, you are not eligible to apply if you recently moved to Oklahoma. By signing up, I give Tulsa Remote permission to send me periodic news, marketing and updates. Can I still apply if I just recently moved to Tulsa? The ideal candidate for Tulsa Remote is a fully-employed individual with the flexibility to work anywhere, who does not currently reside in Oklahoma or work for a company based in Oklahoma, and is looking for a community to call home. ), Lower cost of living compared to other major cities in the US, You can move within 12 months after you are accepted, You have full-time remote employment, or you are self-employed outside of Oklahoma. I was moving either way and was actually already under contract on a house. Born in Rochester, and raised and educated in North Carolina, shes also lived in Atlanta, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Oakland, and Los Angeles. Since 2018, nearly 1,300 talented individuals have joined our ranks, found home in Tulsa, and are helping shape one of Americas greatest cities. Some of Tulsa's most prominent updates are visible in the city's aesthetics and infrastructure: In the past 10 years, a mix of public and private dollars has helped build the sprawling $465. 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. According to a 2018 Upwork report, 63 percent of companies surveyed had at least one employee working remotely, and hiring managers predicted that in the next 10 years, 38 percent of their full-time employees will work mostly remotely. IF YOU TELL THEM YOU ALREADY HAVE PLANS TO MOVE HERE, YOU WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFIED. The highly selective program, which awards individuals $10,000 towards relocation, focuses on creating a supportive ecosystem. Static.COOKIE_BANNER_CAPABLE = true; As part of the application process, you'll do a video interview. 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.. What are some interview tips? Multiple calls to a Tulsa spokesperson were not immediately returned. Brainstorm, network, or even whip up a passion project together collaboration is always highly encouraged here. For one thing, the cities with the most remote work are the same big superstar cities that dominated the pre-pandemic economy. They would recommend coming to Tulsa to visit and see if its a good fit before accepting. The best time to visit Tulsa would be Spring and Fall. Tulsa Remote is not the only program of its kind the state of Vermont announced a much-publicized. Remote workers have high-paying jobs, and that income trickles out into Tulsa as they spend it. For my interview, I tried to think of the top 4-5 things that were most interesting about me, and how I'd bring them to the table, so to speak. We are planning to live in Tulsa proper. Just be yourself, we are pretty nice around here despite what you might have heard. The program, explains Stewart, furthers the George Kaiser Family Foundations mandate of reversing the cycle of generational poverty in the local community. To be considered for the Tulsa Remote program, we ask that applicants meet all four eligibility requirements: You can move to Tulsa within the next 12 months. Are you now a Tulsan? I work remotely for an Oklahoma-based company. Its economy specializes in oil and gas, aerospace, and manufacturing. Wealth in Tulsa is lower than national averages, according to the 2015 American Communities Survey. Either because we all are remote workers or moved away from our home towns, etc. Simply just be yourself! "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. And they estimate every dollar spent on the program creates $13 in economic activity. 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. They are spending some of that time volunteering in the local community. It's not the first time cities and even states have offered cash to entice would-be residents. In Tulsa, an 8.517 percent sales tax, one of the highest in the nation, funds the city's operating budget, he explained. The emphasis is on weaving a social fabric among new arrivals and within the wider community. Then the applicants would get thanks for trying or congrats emails. Am I eligible to apply? 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. In July, she and her husband bought a house. They get 1,000 applications a week and interview 200-300 candidates on Zoom. As long as the program continues to have a positive impact on the community, we will continue it.. function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} Hi, I have my semi-finalist interview day after tomorrow. gtag('js', new Date()); along the same lines in 2018 and its success will ensure that it isnt the last. The Tulsa Remote team reviews each application. Yes. I got an email asking for a background check and income verification about two weeks after. We've been here for almost nine months, and we've loved it so far! Tulsa was categorized by McKinsey Global Institute's recent Future of Work report as a "stable city" in the "mixed middle," described as having modest postrecession GDP and population growth, a prosperous past but uncertain future, and neither thriving . Well, this is when I tell you, you can't believe everything you read or watch on the internet. I am not going to lie; I was worried about safety because research says Tulsa is unsafe. The question is whether Tulsa can continue to attract remote workers when it has to compete with, say, Wichita, Kansas or Omaha, Nebraska. 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. Instead they received more than 10,000 in the first 90 days. The remote workers who moved to Tulsa have a higher standard of living than they had before, theyre engaged in their new community, and most plan to stay. The participants report no decrease in productivity since moving. 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. "If you can come to town, and bring your job here, it can be a home run.". We even offer a. The city's population was 401,800 in 2017, a 2.2 percent increase from 2000. In 2020, as more Americas were given the opportunity to work remotely in the wake of the pandemic, that number jumped to 50,000. There is no deadline at this point, but we might close the application at any time, so people should apply now, said Bolzle. Because the people in the city were super welcoming everywhere we went.