Over the last several months, I have had the opportunity privilege to work on a project for the National Energy Policy Institute (NEPI). 

The City of Tulsa requested a report on the unique attributes of Tulsa’s energy sector that contribute to the region’s expertise in both legacy and emerging energy technologies, and NEPI agreed to provide financial support for the project.  The project’s sponsor at the City, then-Intergovernmental & Enterprise Director Chris Benge (he’s now at the Tulsa Metro Chamber) gave me a sense of what he might be looking for – but no definitive requirements.  So – off I went to learn about Tulsa’s energy community, and the requirements and possibilities evolved over the course of the project.

A few months, several interviews, tours, a mostly-full Moleskine notebook, and several pots of coffee later, I’m proud to have researched, written, and managed the publication of “Tulsa: 2^nd Century Energy.” 

Tulsa: 2^nd Century Energy

"2nd Century Energy" provides an accessible overview and high-level analysis of Tulsa’s energy industry, highlights area businesses on the leading edge of the new energy economy, and provides details about the region’s energy-focused intellectual capital.

Along the way, I uncovered some fascinating resources and research under way in Tulsa, and came away with a new appreciation for how much the energy industry – both old and new - means to this region.  I’m also very pleased to see that Tulsa’s Mayor, Dewey Bartlett Jr., is featuring 2^nd Century Energy in his public speaking, and on the website of the Office of the Mayor.

I met some great, passionate, and innovative people in the course of researching and writing this report, especially the professionals that helped make publication possible.  Graphic design and printing management was provided by Greg Rex and Nicole Morgan of Tulsa-based Rex PR.  Both Greg and Nicole were great collaborators to help bring the project to completion – I hope we get a chance to work together on future projects, and I highly recommend their work.

  Image from “Pearl District Design Plan.”

The Pearl District – a near-downtown neighborhood with a lot of history and a lot of lingering challenges here in Tulsa – is working hard to reinvent itself.  Convenient to downtown, highways, and entertainment districts, the neighborhood has struggled for years to reestablish itself as a mixed-use, pedestrian friendly place to live and work.  Organizers see it as a vital addition to downtown revitalization projects, providing some continuity and a landing place for people who don’t want to live downtown per se, but who frequent the ongoing developments there. 

Take a look at the satellite image of the district currently, and the planned use map provided by the Pearl District Association.  The “6^th Street Infill Plan” is available here from the City of Tulsa, but the PDA and the City have gone even further, with a design plan including a canal feature.  There is a pilot project for a form-based code (a personal favorite idea) - creating a look and feel without dividing usage zones like current zoning requires.  They’re stretching, but people thought that turning a disused warehouse district with a drainage ditch into an entertainment area in Oklahoma City was a stretch too... 

I’ve posted about the Better Block project in Oak Cliff  a couple of times – this looks to be Tulsa’s experiment with the idea. Tulsa’s Young Professionals “Tulsa Urbanists” work crew has a take on the Better Block planned: “Polishing the Pearl” – coming up in April.

From distressed neighborhood to vibrant place to play and live – improving property values, generating sales taxes, and reusing valuable space…  This is the heart of economic and community development.  It's going to take some time, but this is going to be fun to watch.

The latest self-sufficiency standards report has been released, and I’ve got a copy of the Oklahoma-specific report to review.  This guide – prepared for various communities all around the United States by the Center for Women’s Welfare at the University of Washington– is essential in figuring out a close estimate of what it actually costs to survive in a given area.  Survive – not live in luxury, not live free from worry – just survive…

Here are Tulsa County’s self-sufficiency standards for selected family types:

A close reading of this table shows that the average adult living in Tulsa county needs to earn roughly $9.23 per hour.  The Federal minimum wage for jobs covered under the Fair Labor Standards Act is $7.25.  So – a minimum-wage worker in a covered job needs to find an extra $2.00 per hour to make up the difference for basic survival.

A single adult with a preschooler and a school-age child (not an uncommon situation!) needs to earn almost $19.00 per hour to meet the same standard of living.

More great discussion about the standards and the application of this information HERE.  Clearly, thinking carefully about the kinds of jobs that we choose to target for development, and the accompanying wage levels, is a critical component of good economic development strategy.  The number of jobs is not enough – those jobs must also provide an avenue to self-sufficiency.

January, 2008 through September, 2009

Source: Oklahoma Employment Security Commission