Schematic Design, Renderings Released for New North Tulsa Entrepreneurship Hub
Tulsa, Okla. – Today, the Tulsa Development Authority Board of Commissioners approved schematic designs for the Greenwood Entrepreneurship at Moton (GEM), a new entrepreneurship hub in North Tulsa led by the Tulsa Economic Development Corporation (TEDC).
“I am eager to bring this entrepreneurship hub to life in North Tulsa as we make available the tools we have as a City to make this a reality,” said Mayor G.T. Bynum, who also serves as the Chair for the Tulsa Authority for Economic Opportunity. “This hub will provide a dynamic space for innovators and entrepreneurs and will soon further provide opportunities for many Tulsans, especially those who live and work in our North Tulsa community.”
In May of 2021, the City of Tulsa, PartnerTulsa, and Tulsa Development Authority (TDA) announced plans to provide $4 million to support the Incubator, which was ultimately approved by the Tulsa City Council.
“I’m excited for the impact and essential support GEM will provide to North Tulsans to help rebuild the legacy of Black Wall Street,” District 1 City Councilor Vanessa Hall-Harper said. “This will serve as a space that provides an opportunity for black small businesses to produce prosperous entrepreneurs and accelerate economic opportunity within our community.”
The $4 million budget amendment included funding for:
- $2.5 million to redevelop the historic Moton Health Center (later renamed to Morton Comprehensive Health Services) at Pine St. and N. Greenwood Ave. into an incubator space where North Tulsa entrepreneurs can turn their entrepreneurial vision into a reality.
- $500,000 to support the launch of business accelerator programming and courses that leverage the expertise and talent of the local community through a 15-week course where entrepreneur cohorts develop their ideas into successful businesses.
- $1 million to seed the Build Tulsa Fund, a pool of financial resources for businesses participating in GEIM, MORTAR, and other programs for under-resourced entrepreneurs building in North Tulsa.
To make way for the incubator, TDA completed demolition on non-historic buildings at the site in December and approved the Contract for Sale of Land and Redevelopment with TEDC in January.
“The transformative outcomes that will undoubtedly emerge from both the rehabilitation of the Morton Hospital and the launch of TEDC’s incubator space will truly be a momentous step forward for North Tulsa,” TDA Chair Ashley Philippsen said. “The collaborative partnership between TEDC, Tulsa Development Authority, and the City of Tulsa will help ensure small Black businesses are provided with equitable access to critical resources that contribute to creating a thriving community. The resurgence of this historic location is sure to excite aspiring entrepreneurs while honoring the legacy of Black Wall Street.”
For more information about the project, visit: https://partnertulsa.org/building-wealth-for-our-community/community-revitalization-projects/historic-moton-hospital/
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About PartnerTulsa
PartnerTulsa is the City of Tulsa’s economic development Authority that streamlines and strengthens Tulsa’s economic development efforts through the merging of the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development (MOED), Tulsa Industrial Authority (TIA), Tulsa Parking Authority (TPA), and Economic Development Commission (EDC) into a single, enhanced Public Trust. Partner Tulsa (aka TAEO) is governed by a thirteen (13) member Board of Trustees and provides staffing for and oversees the operations of the Tulsa Development Authority (TDA). For more information about PartnerTulsa, visit www.PartnerTulsa.org.
About the City of Tulsa
The City of Tulsa serves more than 400,000 residents with approximately 3,700 public servants on staff. In addition to public safety, the City of Tulsa provides clean and safe drinking water to Tulsa residents and surrounding communities, manages more than 1,700 arterial street lane miles, operates refuse and recycling in addition to a mulch site, manages a 311 call center for citizen needs, and more. The City of Tulsa operates under a strong mayor form of government with a nine-member City Council. G.T. Bynum is the current mayor – the 40th in Tulsa’s history. For more information about the City of Tulsa and its Authorities Boards and Commissions, visit www.cityoftulsa.org/abcs. For more information about joining the City’s team, visit www.cityoftulsa.org/jobs.