With community workshops, art showings, local fabrication spaces and unique shops, the opportunities to express yourself are endless. Aside from the $10,000 disbursed as a house down payment or over time Tulsa Remote members also get assistance with house hunting, access to co-working spaces and weekly social and . 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. Bee Law has called many corners of the United States home. We know remote arrangements take planning. The Tulsa Remote program opened to applicants in November 2018. 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. Rent - $658 Tulsa vs. $2,415 Portland, 2 BR Avg. Thats the logic that leads EIGs models to estimate such a high payoff for Tulsa Remote. As part of the application process, you'll do a video interview. American Airlines is the city's biggest employer, accounting for 7,000 jobs at its global maintenance and engineering facility, according to a 2017 report from Moody's Investors Service. The conversation was short and easy. Nov 26-Semi-finalist interview real chill convo, I sold my community involvement I take part in and spoke about my job etc. Each community is unique, and has to have a unique set of data that theyre monitoring and working through regularly, says Ben Stewart, the senior program officer at the George Kaiser Family Foundation, which designed and funded the Tulsa Remote program. I'd be interested to know who you interviewed with, the kinds of questions they and you asked. For applicants that need to transition to remote work from a non-remote position, Tulsa Remote may require confirmation that they are able to work remotely. They do ask about your salary, so dont let that catch you off guard. You are not eligible for the program if youre in process of buying a home or renting an apartment. I am not going to lie; I was worried about safety because research says Tulsa is unsafe. 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. I had my semi finalist interview last Thursday. Cookie Notice What's happening: It all started in 2018 with Tulsa Remote, . Thats what helped me get in, Thank you for the advice! I applied the day apps open and was notified yesterday I am semi finalist. The participants report no decrease in productivity since moving. The family sold their house in Madison, Wisconsin, and six months after being accepted into the program, they arrived in Tulsa. You may opt-out by. We'd love to get you the information and resources you need to take the leap to move to Tulsa. This was a program that was right-sized and designed to fill a lot of those gaps, and then scaled in such a way as to have a significant impact on an economy of the size of the Tulsa metro.. Nervous about making the move? Getting to see more of the country is one of our goals for 2021 and beyond. If selected for the program, how soon can I move? 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. The list wasnt topped by new remote hubs like Tulsa, but by Washington, DC, San Francisco, and Austin. Grab your laptop and take a break with dozens of choices around town. Since 2019, Tulsa Remote has brought over 1,800 people to the city by offering them $10,000. It doesnt have much in the way of a technology sector. What was your example? Thats especially true when the program involves attracting outsiders. Yes, the program involves cutting checks to mostly well-educated, well-paid knowledge workers. When is the earliest people are accepted to move to Tulsa? No, you are not eligible to apply if you recently moved to Oklahoma. I work for a rideshare or delivery service like Lyft or Doordash. The . The interview process in order to be considered for the grant is fairly standard . We've already driven back to LA for work and seen our families a few times during our first nine months. An award-winning team of journalists, designers, and videographers who tell brand stories through Fast Company's distinctive lens, The future of innovation and technology in government for the greater good, Fast Company's annual ranking of businesses that are making an outsize impact, Leaders who are shaping the future of business in creative ways, New workplaces, new food sources, new medicine--even an entirely new economic system. Tulsa Remote is designed for individuals who have full-time remote employment with a company outside of Oklahoma. 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. Just in case anyone is planning on applying: DO NOT TELL THEM YOU ARE OR HAVE PLANS TO MOVE TO TULSA. Were going to stay here for sure, she says. 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. We've been here for almost nine months, and we've loved it so far! No. It was definitely fun to see all the sights but very troublesome with all of our stuff in the car. If the finalist has no previous experience with Tulsa, an in-person visit may be scheduled. The Tulsa Remote program, however, is not necessarily the right program for all cities hoping to attract highly paid remote workers. 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. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. I saw an older post in this subreddit about some folks' experience with Tulsa Remote but was wondering if anyone else could weigh in on what the interview process was like? Excited to see you all soon! According to the study, the average annual income of program members is nearly $105,000. Tulsa has seen unparalleled investments to public space for a city of its size. Nov 14-Notified of semi-finalist status, scheduled interview for Nov 26th via calendly. The city's population was 401,800 in 2017, a 2.2 percent increase from 2000. What are my options? "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. When Tulsa Remote first launched in the fall of 2018, Stewart says organizers were anticipating 15 to 20 applicants. May 04, 2021. Tomm now volunteers for a tutoring program called Reading Partners. Just be yourself, we are pretty nice around here despite what you might have heard. 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. Sen & I live in Downtown Tulsa, where we can walk to most places. If so, Tulsa Remote will pay you $10,000 to move to Oklahoma. Need some desk space to get things done? From free coworking space to inspiring educational experiences, our program is designed to make you feel at home from your first day here. According to a report published by the. Creatives mold the vibrant culture in Tulsa. Tulsa Remote is an incentive program offering $10,000 to out-of-state remote workers who move to Oklahoma. Theyre also more likely to report engagement in their local community. Far less congestion than cities like Austin, Atlanta and Dallas. The goal is to reach at least 250. Rent - $658 Tulsa vs. $3,519 SF, 2 BR Avg. LET THEM ENTICE YOU WITH THAT GRANT. Tulsa is seeking digital nomads to put their roots down here. In September 2022, EIG released another study of remote work, this one reporting which cities had the highest share of work done from home. The Oklahoma city is the focal point of Tulsa Remote, a program offering a $10,000 grant and additional incentives to selected . 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? Bynum addresses attendees at an event tied to the Tulsa Remote program. November 14, 2018 / 2:09 PM Dont know much more about the process as of yet, but I know next step is at least one video interview. The program was expected to bring in around 1,000 applicants and hopefully bring 50 people to Tulsa. Better binge watch your favorite shows before you get here. I am moving to your city in the next couple weeks. The program brings remote workers and digital nomads to the community by providing $10,000 grants and numerous community-building opportunities. ", "I am loving Tulsa. !function(c,h,i,m,p){m=c.createElement(h),p=c.getElementsByTagName(h)[0],m.async=1,m.src=i,p.parentNode.insertBefore(m,p)}(document,"script","https://chimpstatic.com/mcjs-connected/js/users/e2a1c94371de8d9fbce37f174/c1afc46532954c025b953796f.js"); 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)! Rent - $658 Tulsa vs. $4,088 New York, 2 BR Avg. 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. We have a couple of trips out of Oklahoma in the pipeline, so stay tuned for more on that. While the monetary incentive helps put Tulsa on the map for remote workers, they believe the program has been successful in keeping them in town by providing a level of support they wouldnt enjoy elsewhere. You have full-time remote employment or are self-employed outside of Oklahoma. But for now, that question counts as a good problem to have. Well, this is when I tell you, you can't believe everything you read or watch on the internet. This is a BETA experience. I dont think people are going to make a permanent life decision, or even a medium term one, based on a relatively small financial incentive, says Lettieri. Simply just be yourself! Ive never been to Tulsa and want to visit before I make the move. We are still documenting and gathering data for all the ways the program has helped our community, said Bolzle. The list wasnt topped by new remote hubs like Tulsa, but by Washington, DC, San Francisco, and Austin. In my opinion, one of the biggest perks of Tulsa Remote is the community the team has built. While monetary incentives help bring people to town, Lettieri and Fikri believe that other local amenities and support structures ultimately inspire them to stay, allowing the program to generate lasting value. 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. Since I had a remote job at the time, we might qualify. Even so, the report is good news for Tulsa Remote, and Choudhury thinks theres a simple reason why the programs participants are more involved. Anyone can schedule a Guided Tour at their convenience. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. During our consideration, we liked that Tulsa is in the middle of the country, and there are so many opportunities for road trips! Selected as part of the inaugural cohort of Endeavor's Heartland ScaleUp. Funded by George Kaiser Family Foundation, Tulsa Remote has basic requirements. Thoughts on the program itself would also be useful. I started to get envious, she said. At least 12 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, The Saturday Six: Dental device controversy, scientist's bug find and more, Indonesia fuel depot fire kills 18; more than a dozen missing, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Nikki Haley slams potential GOP contenders, and Trump and George W. Bush, Duo of 81-year-old women plan to see the world in 80 days, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Alex Murdaugh trial: What to know about the double murder case. With Tulsa Remote you get a built-in community, instead of coming here on my own, which was kind of intimidating, says Law. Full-time remote employment or self-employed outside of Oklahoma. It was not like that at all and lasted all of about 10 minutes. Today I have my interview with the Tulsa Remote Program which was one of my selling points for moving to Tulsa. One of the other biggest perks is that there is NO traffic; the worst traffic would be just a 5 minutes delay. From tiki lounges to speakeasies and hole-in-the-wall neighborhood bars, there's no shortage of places to grab a drink or celebrate with friends or make new friends. We'll give you some money to help with relocation expenses, a monthly stipend to keep things moving and the rest when you've finished the first year. How Tulsa is Helping Remote Workers: An Interview with Dustin Curzon of 36 Degrees North Cobot The leading management software for coworking spaces worldwide, trusted by coworking spaces, office hubs, and flexible workspaces of all sizes to grow and manage their communities. Levit expects the first cohort will touch down in Tulsa in early 2019. Additionally, they must be working remotely full-time or self-employed. The program requires selected participants to move within 12 months of being accepted and completing the required verification steps. Ask about their family and engage in the excitement about relocating to Tulsa! Which makes most of us super open to meeting new people and new like-minded friends. The program organizes events and outings, and encourages Remoters to participate in local civic programs. During the first nine months we've been in the city, we have already: Joined the state-approved incubator at 36 Degrees North. The program, explains Stewart, furthers the George Kaiser Family Foundations mandate of reversing the cycle of generational poverty in the local community. They would recommend coming to Tulsa to visit and see if its a good fit before accepting. Am I eligible to apply? So we left the oversized items with both of our parents and donated a lot of our cloth. If selected for the program, do I have to live downtown? Which means that in 2021 There is an estimated $13.77 boost in new local labor income for every dollar spent toward relocating a remote worker. Those selected for the program must live within Tulsa city limits. . With festivals, races and celebrations happening throughout the year, you'll struggle to find a weekend with nothing to do. 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. Sen & I've met so many interesting individuals in the Tulsa Remote community and are great friends with many of them. That's despite accepting under 5% of applicants last year, according to managing director Justin. 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. a.appendChild(r); Today, Tulsa's quality of place is resonating with applicants to an innovative program called Tulsa Remote. Tulsa Remote does not offer employment of any kind. On top of the cash subsidies, the program, dubbed "Tulsa Remote," comes with a free membership to 36 Degrees North, a. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. What kind of remote work do you do? You are eligible to work in the United States Can Move to Tulsa Within the Next 12 Months No. Launched in November 2018, the program aims at attracting individuals who already. We mailed many items that were not fragile, like cloth, bedding, etc., fit everything else plus our cat and dog into our SUV, and started our trip to Tulsa. Any advice for the interview?? 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. The highly selective program, which awards individuals $10,000 towards relocation, focuses on creating a supportive ecosystem. Tulsa Remote helped welcome and connect us to the city from the day we arrived. 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. Some of that difference could reflect a limit of the survey: Maybe the people who were accepted to Tulsa Remote but werent able to move are uniquely disengaged from their current communities, and so arent the right baseline. It was also wintertime, the height of the pandemic, and a lot of Asian hate news, so we decided to wait. r.src=t+h._hjSettings.hjid+j+h._hjSettings.hjsv; 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. Its economy specializes in oil and gas, aerospace, and manufacturing. I use apartments.com. Tulsa has unique neighborhoods, a nationally-recognized food scene, world-class music and theatre venues, and one of the best park systems in the country. While we try to accept a wide variety of movers and shakers into our program, we, unfortunately, can't invite everyone. Fast Company & Inc 2023 Mansueto Ventures, LLC, Tulsa paid people $10k to move there and work remotely. . I prepared like it was a job interview at some corporation. 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. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. And two recent studies suggest the investment was worth it. $10,000 (either via monthly stipends or lump sum if you purchase a home in Tulsa), Opportunity to meet like-minded individuals through the Tulsa Remote community. var message="Function Disabled! No Right Clicks So any community involvement is what they want to hear. Oklahoma is one of the very few states whose cities rely entirely on sales tax for the government operating costs, said Perry. , this one reporting which cities had the highest share of work done from home. Can Tulsa remain a draw for remote workers if other cities copy its model? His work at Tulsas Equality Center led to an additional part-time job and helped him meet more members of the community. The program brings remote workers and digital nomads to the community by providing $10,000 grants and numerous community-building opportunities. Tulsa Remote is a one-year program designed to attract remote workers from around the country by paying them to move to and work from Tulsa for at least 12 months. This includes: currently working with a realtor, in escrow, about to close on your home, have closed on your home, have already purchased a property in Oklahoma, or have signed a lease prior to completing your background check and being formally accepted into the program. Life has not been the same since I first apply for TR and we can't wait to see where it will take us next! For example, if John Doe applies on September 1st, his partner must apply no later than September 14th to be considered. However, what really has made Tulsa "fantastic" for me, is how well . 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. 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. Multiple calls to a Tulsa spokesperson were not immediately returned. A community for Tulsa Oklahoma and surrounding areas. Its economy specializes in oil and gas, aerospace, and manufacturing. 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. window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; He adds Tulsa Remotes success is partially owed to the appeal of the city itself, which he describes as a hidden gem, as well as other redevelopment efforts that have been undertaken in recent years. 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. There are lots of smaller cities that can offer inexpensive housing. We've been featured in "My wife and I were looking for a place to raise our son and Tulsa has been a great fit for our family. Just in case anyone is planning on applying: DO NOT TELL THEM YOU ARE OR HAVE PLANS TO MOVE TO TULSA. 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.. But what makes Tulsa's program unique is its focus on remote workers. All told, Tulsa Remote is estimated to have contributed $62 million in new labor income to the local economy in 2021. It's a growing segment of the workforce. It is no coincidence that the program has sought to attract roughly the same number of new residents. Instead they received more than 10,000 in the first 90 days. After the pandemic I knew I wasnt going to go back to California, so I was in limbo looking for that next place to call a home base, she says. In 2020, as more Americas were given the opportunity to work remotely in the wake of the pandemic, that number jumped to 50,000. "Tulsa is most definitely on the come up, and the opportunity to build my company here alongside an incredible community of passionate individuals has been amazing,". 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. Tulsa Remote also compares favorably to one of the other staples of local development: Cutting taxes to attract companies. Absolutely. Claire Tomm decided to apply to Tulsa Remote after hearing about it from a friend whod participated. The George Kaiser Family Foundation created the Tulsa Remote program as a way to lure tech workers from around the country to Tulsa. A lot of that money stays in the local economy.. function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} Remote workers tend to be well paid; theyre in white collar digital and professional occupations, generally speaking, and those tend to come with pretty high salaries, explains Kenan Fikri, EIGs research director. No. So she filled out a brief application, interviewed with a Tulsa native over Zoom, and was accepted after a background check. Are there any age restrictions to apply for the Tulsa Remote program? Don't just take our word for it. Born in Rochester, and raised and educated in North Carolina, shes also lived in Atlanta, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Oakland, and Los Angeles. window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);}gtag('js', new Date());gtag('set', 'developer_id.dZjQwMz', true);gtag('config', 'UA-115877007-1'); and our So I turned to Sen and asked if he was down to move to Tulsa, OK, with me if we got in. A program paid workers $10,000 to relocate to Tulsa. Our members are the best part of our program. IF YOU TELL THEM YOU ALREADY HAVE PLANS TO MOVE HERE, YOU WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFIED. They want to know how you would integrate into Tulsa, what your skills are and to learn more about your personality. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. And theyre encouraged to get to know the people in their neighborhood and become involved within their communities. Exhibited my photography work during the Accidentally Wes Anderson: THIS IS AN ADVENTURE exhibit in the Philbrook Museum of Art. Rent - $658 Tulsa vs. $2,069 Seattle, 2 BR Avg. h.hj=h.hj||function(){(h.hj.q=h.hj.q||[]).push(arguments)}; Following its launch in 2018, Tulsa Remote will go from having chosen 100 people last year to doubling that amount for its 2020 process. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. by the Economic Innovation Group, a think tank, estimated Tulsa Remotes effect on the citys economy using standard models of economic development. All Rights Reserved. Rent - $658 Tulsa vs. $2,669 Boston, 2 BR Avg. While the Oklahoma state population has increased 14 percent since 2000, Tulsa's population growth has been sluggish, according to Census data. That kind of thing. For more information, please see our Tulsa Remote is a case study in how remote work can shift economic development, and it paints a hopeful picture for smaller cities. Your a Midwesterner. 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. The standard answer is that knowledge-sector jobs that can be done remotely are high-paying and tend to have spillovers to the local community at least when housing costs dont rise enough to cancel out those benefits. We had to decide very quickly what to keep, donate or toss. Needless to say, I didnt get accepted. Rent - $658 Tulsa vs. $2,449 LA, 2 BR Avg. Luke Scuitto, who moved to Tulsa from Washington, DC in 2020 and works remotely for a nonprofit, also connected to the local community through volunteer work. Tulsa Remote is intended for individuals who reside outside of Oklahoma at the time of application. We even offer a. What types of incentives are program participants receiving? 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. What was your final outcome? Tulsa's 30+ entertainment and residential districts offer diverse landscapes and inclusive communities for you to find the perfect place for inspiration.