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August 28, 2024

Driving Change through Place-Based Economic Development: Tulsa’s 36th Street North Corridor

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PartnerTulsa’s mission centers on increasing equality of opportunity for all residents, focusing multiple efforts and interventions in targeted areas of the city to intentionally accelerate change and development. One of the strongest examples of this work lies at intersection of 36th Street North and Peoria – a neighborhood known as the Phoenix District – where the City of Tulsa, PartnerTulsa, and countless partners have come together for nearly a decade now to advance investments, projects, and programs which seek to increase development and support residents. What makes this work so special? It’s all focused on addressing the holistic needs for a successful neighborhood and city economy, supporting people and place through strategic interventions.

Increasing Access to and the Availability of Quality Jobs: 
  • The Peoria-Mohawk Business Park established a home for quality, career-track manufacturing jobs through a partnership with the George Kaiser Family Foundation (GKFF) and City of Tulsa. After assembling the 100+ acre site, Tulsa voters approved $10,000,000 in funding to support infrastructure development, leading to Muncie Power Product’s decision to grow their Tulsa operations at the Park. Business recruitment efforts have focused on identifying business partners who are committed to providing quality jobs and training employees so that they can advance up a career ladder, as well as those who are willing to meaningfully engage in and support the surrounding neighborhood.
  • In 2024, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced Tulsa had been selected as a Tech Hub, committing over $51 million to investments in support of the Tulsa Hub for Equitable and Trustworthy Autonomy. The Tulsa Advanced Research and Manufacturing Acceleration Coalition (TARMAC) will further build upon the Peoria Mohawk Business Park’s work to create quality jobs by establishing a Demonstration Center that will offer advanced equipment, training, and resources for small and mid-sized manufacturers to develop manufacturing capabilities for autonomous systems. This will be paired with a supply chain analysis program, as well as technical assistance through the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance and loan funding through the Tulsa Economic Development (TEDC) to ensure small businesses have the resources needed for success.
Ensuring the Availability of Quality, Affordable Housing: 
  • Leveraging the investment planned for the Peoria Mohawk Business Park, the City of Tulsa approved a Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District that will provide up to $32 million in funding over the next two decades for housing investments in the four census tracts surrounding the Business Park. The TIF will provide a critical funding source to support new development, rehab and repair programs, homebuyer assistance, and voluntary demolition of unsound structures.
  • In 2023, the Tulsa Housing Authority announced Tulsa’s selection for a second Choice Neighborhood grant through U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This $50 million federal grant will be leveraged to support an overall investment of $190 million immediately adjacent to the Peoria Mohawk Business Park, creating a vibrant, mixed-income housing development that will provide 454 multi-family units and up to 170 single-family units.
Building Vibrant Neighborhoods and Commercial Centers: 
  • Through the Retail Revitalization Revolving Loan Fund, PartnerTulsa and the City of Tulsa are increasing access to capital for commercial businesses along the Peoria Corridor. The program provides funding in the form of zero-interest loans and is intended to reduce the barriers businesses in the corridor experience for startup and operation. Working in Partnership with the Tulsa Housing Authority, we’re hoping to grow and expand funding for this work through HUD’s Choice Neighborhood Grant, in partnership with TEDC.
  • Through the pilot of our Community Impact Initiative (CII) program, we partnered with the Phoenix District to work alongside community to design an interactive sculpture along a key walking trail in the neighborhood. The CII has worked alongside Phoenix District and five (5) other neighborhoods across Tulsa to build capacity among partner community-based organizations, with the goal of increasing the role and impact of partners critical to our economic and community development efforts.The efforts highlighted above represent just a small portion of the investments occurring in Tulsa’s 36th Street North Corridor, but exemplify Tulsa’s commitment to place-based economic development. We look forward to continuing to work alongside the City of Tulsa and other partners in the neighborhood as we seek to increase economic opportunity for all.