And by attracting remote workers, Tulsa could bring in new residents and income and even plant the seeds of its own knowledge sector. Just be yourself, we are pretty nice around here despite what you might have heard. The standard answer is that knowledge-sector jobs that can be done remotely are high-paying and tend to have. Rent - $658 Tulsa vs. $2,415 Portland, 2 BR Avg. 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.. Yes. The conversation was short and easy. Tulsa Remote is an incentive program offering $10,000 to out-of-state remote workers who move to Oklahoma. Nearly 600 of those applications have come in from the Bay Area, which is now the program's biggest market. The Tulsa Remote program, however, is not necessarily the right program for all cities hoping to attract highly paid remote workers. I found out that I was accepted and just needed to move within the next 12 months the following week. And if you're selected, you'll have to relocate to Tulsa within the calendar year. The idea is that some may eventually start their own businesses and permanently relocate to Tulsa, according to Ken Levit, executive director of the George Kaiser Family Foundation. But Tulsa Remote's backers anticipate some of the participants won't be remote workers forever. On average, approximately one new job was created in Tulsa for every two remote workers who relocated. Ive never been to Tulsa and want to visit before I make the move. This is when we finally decided to make the move. In a recent study, Prithwiraj Choudhury, a professor at Harvard Business School who studies remote work, found that Tulsa Remoters have higher real incomes (after accounting for living costs) than they did before the move likely driven in large part by cheaper housing. But there are outstanding questions about the program, too.. There are lots of smaller cities that can offer inexpensive housing. So she filled out a brief application, interviewed with a Tulsa native over Zoom, and was accepted after a background check. Tulsa Remote is a case study in how remote work can shift economic development, and it paints a hopeful picture for smaller cities. Remote workers have high-paying jobs, and that income trickles out into Tulsa as they spend it. Rent - $658 Tulsa vs. $2,669 Boston, 2 BR Avg. Tulsa Remote, a program that provides $10,000 grants to remote workers who relocate to Tulsa, OK, has seen a 36% uptick in applications since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) in March. Its been almost a year since Sen and I moved to Tulsa from Los Angeles, and I am glad to report that we love it here! 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. The program requires selected participants to move within 12 months of being accepted and completing the required verification steps. Instead they received more than 10,000 in the first 90 days. What it does have is a lower cost of living compared to other cities. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy. You are eligible to work in the United States, Can Move to Tulsa Within the Next 12 Months, Full-Time Remote Employment or are Self-Employed Outside of Oklahoma. We even offer a. Burlington, Vermont, rolled out a similar program in June and all Alaskans are eligible for payouts via the state's Permanent Reserve Fund. Am I eligible to apply? The researchers estimate that one new full-time job was created in Tulsa for every two Remoters who moved there. And, perhaps most importantly, how many remote workers want to move in the first place? Which makes most of us super open to meeting new people and new like-minded friends. Individuals from outside the U.S. are eligible to apply, so long as they are permanent residents who possess a green card. It inspired us to think of other ways to bring people into the equation, and remote work was an interesting venue.. That just didnt happen. Once youve been accepted into the program and completed the required verification steps, youll receive information about the option to join us in Tulsa for a self-guided or hosted visit. It was not like that at all and lasted all of about 10 minutes. Winter is chilly with chances of snow (and winter storm). All Rights Reserved. r.src=t+h._hjSettings.hjid+j+h._hjSettings.hjsv; And theyre encouraged to get to know the people in their neighborhood and become involved within their communities. Claire Tomm decided to apply to Tulsa Remote after hearing about it from a friend whod participated. 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 . On the coasts, no one could care less about their stranger neighbors. Video interviews are conducted with each finalist selected. So after some cocktails by Bartender Sen, I started browsing the internet, and I came upon the Tulsa Remote Program. Theyre really big on what you are able to bring to the community. 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. But what makes Tulsa's program unique is its focus on remote workers. "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. Summer is hot and humid. I should specify it is a remote interview since I'm still stuck in Iowa currently. The total drive time from LA to Tulsa straight shot is over 21 hours. Needless to say, I didnt get accepted. 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. From academics to engineers, you're sure to find your "people" in Tulsa. The job came with a raise, which was amplified by the lower cost of living. As part of the application process, you'll do a video interview. Need some desk space to get things done? Amid these challenging times, were still safely welcoming new members to Tulsa.You can check out our COVID-19 information to learn more about how weve adjusted. How did that go? We lived in LA for over twenty years and have many friends and family members there. You are 18+ years old. Its economy specializes in oil and gas, aerospace, and manufacturing. Just in case anyone is planning on applying: DO NOT TELL THEM YOU ARE OR HAVE PLANS TO MOVE TO TULSA. We'd love to get you the information and resources you need to take the leap to move to Tulsa. I do think it had potential to happen.. You have full-time remote employment or are self-employed outside of Oklahoma. Tulsa Remote is not able to aid in the acquisition or approval of such credentials (work visas, etc.). 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. What are some interview tips? "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,". What was your example? The interviewer asked a few standard questions like why I wanted to move to Tulsa, questions about my remote job, and if I had any questions or concerns about the city. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Its economy specializes in oil and gas, aerospace, and manufacturing. Last September, A Gathering Place came into fruition as an inclusive riverfront parkwith a childrens adventure playground, a skate park, restaurants and gathering spots. The highly selective program, which awards individuals $10,000 towards relocation, focuses on creating a supportive ecosystem. Any advice for the interview?? 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. It's a growing segment of the workforce. 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. Thats the logic that leads EIGs models to estimate such a high payoff for Tulsa Remote. Brainstorm, network, or even whip up a passion project together collaboration is always highly encouraged here. Kinda sucks interviewing and being accepted without knowing where the heck you'll live. "I suspect that they don't want to be subsidizing people who come here and would otherwise be competing for jobs with local people," said Gene Perry, a director of strategy and communications at Tulsa-based Oklahoma Policy Institute. Sen & I live in Downtown Tulsa, where we can walk to most places. We are still documenting and gathering data for all the ways the program has helped our community, said Bolzle. Grab your laptop and take a break with dozens of choices around town. Hi, 32-Levels. Browse curated job listings at Tulsa based companies. No. Even before the pandemic, the program was having great. Can Tulsa remain a draw for remote workers if other cities copy its model? Sen & I had planned to move around the country via Airbnb (month-long stays), the plan was paused due to the pandemic, but planning and researching it is half the fun. Today, Tulsa's quality of place is resonating with applicants to an innovative program called Tulsa Remote. Funded by George Kaiser Family Foundation, Tulsa Remote has basic requirements. On top of the cash subsidies, the program, dubbed "Tulsa Remote," comes with a free membership to 36 Degrees North, a co-working space in the city, which ordinarily charges members $149 per month or more. He said yes, I applied, and the rest was history. 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. 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.. 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. I feel very a part of Tulsa now, he said. Nov 26-Semi-finalist interview real chill convo, I sold my community involvement I take part in and spoke about my job etc. and our Individuals must be at least 18 years of age to apply. Psst: Our $10,000 grant can now be received as a lump sum upon the purchase of a home! Of the nearly 800. Tomms experience is not unusual. Yes, I am from Los Angeles, where the crime rate is high too! Rent - $658 Tulsa vs. $1,184 Austin, Median Home Price - $157K Tulsa vs. $917K SF, Median Home Price - $157K Tulsa vs. $390K New York, Median Home Price - $157K Tulsa vs. $546K LA, Median Home Price - $157K Tulsa vs. $394K DC, Median Home Price - $157K Tulsa vs. $484K Seattle, Median Home Price - $157K Tulsa vs. $443K Boston, Median Home Price - $157K Tulsa vs. $442K Denver, Median Home Price - $157K Tulsa vs. $385K Portland, Median Home Price - $157K Tulsa vs. $610K San Diego, Median Home Price - $157K Tulsa vs. $242K Chicago, Median Home Price - $157K Tulsa vs. $296K Austin. The median family income was about 80 percent of the national average, according to the study. Gathering Place, Tulsa's 66-acre riverfront park, offers out-of-this-world play structures (plus bar and lounge space for those of us too big for the banana slide). Are there evens or weekly/monthly meetings for the cohort? Tulsa Remote participants were more likely to say they intend to stay where they currently live than the candidates who were accepted but didnt end up moving. If so, Tulsa Remote will pay you $10,000 to move to Oklahoma. They also have to relocate to Tulsa within a year of being accepted into the program, plus commit to living in Tulsa for at least that same amount of time. 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. Then the applicants would get thanks for trying or congrats emails. 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 term remote employment refers to individuals who do not have to physically travel into their place of work on a daily basis. They received nearly that many in one day with inquiries from more than 200 countries and . We were still hesitant since we'd never even been to Oklahoma. 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. gtag('js', new Date()); , found that Tulsa Remoters have higher real incomes (after accounting for living costs) than they did before the move likely driven in large part by cheaper housing. People are really kind and genuinely interested in each other in Tulsa too. The application process for the 2020 program is now under way. Each grant is distributed over the course of a year to eligible remote workers or entrepreneurs living outside of Oklahoma. Those who are interested in moving to Tulsa and hold a full-time remote job based outside of Oklahoma can apply for this program. 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. After decades of brain drain in rural America, Tulsa Remote is working to attract a diverse group of remote workers to live in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (To its credit, GKFF has other programs focused on poverty alleviation, racial equity, and job creation in Tulsa.). Tulsa Remote is a unique recruitment initiative aimed at attracting talented individuals to Tulsa. Tulsa's current economic base is anchored on manufacturing and aerospace. Tulsa Remote does not sell your data. No. The family sold their house in Madison, Wisconsin, and six months after being accepted into the program, they arrived in 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");