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A missed opportunity

Started by cannon_fodder, July 03, 2008, 08:43:35 AM

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cannon_fodder

ConocoPhillips announced today plans to build a massive R & D complex employing up to 7,000 research engineers in alternative energy... in Colorado (essentially Denver).
http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?articleID=20080703_49_E1_spancl76501


Corporate HQ will remain in Houston, B-Ville will be the logistics and internet center (3K people), and Colorado will be the R&D center.  

quote:
There's so many reasons we chose that location," she said. "In Houston and Bartlesville, we're really running out of space."

Most of the new hires likely will come from the nearby area, although several hundred people could be moved from Houston, according to reports.

Harlow said ConocoPhillips does not expect it to change the employee head count in Bartlesville, where about 500 contractors also work with the company.


Running out of room?  REALLY?  We have plenty of room in between Tulsa and Bartlesville.  Come and play!

More seriously, this is EXACTLY the kind of development that I would LOVE to see move to Tulsa.  If ever we were going to roll out en economic development package and essentially bribe an industry, one would think this would be the type of project we would kill for.

I want announcements of large numbers of high paying jobs moving to Tulsa.  State and local leaders, your job is to make it happen.
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I crush grooves.

Gold

Beyond that, you want the research jobs.  Those are people with advanced degrees that really contribute to a city.  So many of my friends growing up had parents at the research group at Amaco.  Those are people who grow roots in an area, invest in the area, go to the symphony, etc.


TulsaPride

You have to understand that one of the main reasons that this facility will be located in Colorado is that research on renewables will be conducted there. This is in large part beacuse Colorado is a brain pool for this type of research. The National Renewable Energy Lab is also located near by.

http://www.nrel.gov/

cannon_fodder

I do understand that.  I am not faulting anyone for missing this.  Just pointing out that we should be doing all we can to get in this game before it's too late.

The next facility will be located in Colorado because that's were ConocoPhillips and the NREL research labs are.  The oil companies moved their HQ to Houston because everyone else did.  Tech jobs are in Portland because Intel built there.

We need to be fighting for these higher end jobs.  With our energy expertise in place, it would make sense to fight for renewable energy jobs.  Research in particular would be a fantastic area to be in.
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I crush grooves.

PonderInc

I agree with Cannon.  Those were my exact thoughts this AM when I read the paper.

Chicken Little

The information here is imperfect because the source is seems to be proprietary, but it's useful anyway.

In 2007, Colorado ranked 3rd in AeA's Cyberstates study with 86 of every 1,000 jobs were with high-tech firms.

In 2005, the same guys ranked Oklahoma 35th with 34 of every 1,000 private-sector workers in Oklahoma employed by high-tech firms.  Also, our wages for hi-tech jobs are ranked 45th, something that should not be overlooked.

In addition, Colorado has an estimated 22,000 hi-tech jobs working directly in renewable energy.

You are right, CF, state and local leaders should try to get thse kinds of jobs in Oklahoma.  But, how?  Where do you begin?

Bribes, i.e., cash and tax incentives may not do it.  I'd like to think that that kind of offer is a last resort.  Companies are movable.  If you bribe them into Oklahoma, what's to keep them from bouncing out when the benefits run out?

On the other hand, education is certainly a key.  We can, and we do, train young folks for hi-tech jobs in the petroleum industry and in other sectors.  We can and probably should continue to invest in higher ed in order to keep the training as broad and inclusive as possible.  We'll need to, IMO, because when school's out those kids tend to gravitate to where jobs are abundant, the pay is greatest, and the lifestyle is most appealing...and that's not necessarily Tulsa.  

I'm not down on my city or my state, but if we're lagging anywhere, it's in keeping this place maintained, and also adding real amenities that make it more livable.  How many of you all used to clean your place up before you went out on a date?  You never know how the things are going to turn out, so why take any chances?  Face it, compared to a lot of places, we live in a filthy apartment and we ain't got no air-conditioning, let alone cable.

Sure, Oklahoma's got the potential to be a luxury penthouse with a million dollar view; a real swinging bachelor pad.  But we're terrible at housework.  We've flat-out stopped investing in those things that make our lives more livable.

I can't understand why it's this way.  When you look at the three assets: companies, employees, and infrastructure, two of them are mobile.  You can spend a fortune on trying to improve in these areas and still lose it all in the end.  The only fixed asset our leaders have to work with is the ground on which they sit.

So, it really honks me off when our State legislators opt for a paultry tax cut instead of choosing to fix our roads and bridges.  And when guys like Christianson offer up a teeny, "do-nothing" streets package as an alternative to a bold package that might just get us back on the right track.

Things like the arena and ballpark are probably the right idea, but in the wrong sequence.  That's cherry-on-top stuff.  There is so much more you can do to make this town more livable first, like improving mass transit and changing the zoning code to allow for more walkable developent.  Great cities have this, and we'll need it too if we want to be great.

FOTD

That sinking feeling sets in when one must agree with the fodder of all threads.

Hometown

I want to drag this thread back from the brink because this subject is very, very important to Tulsa.  Of course we should have landed this new facility.  But Tulsa is a study in dumb luck and missed opportunities.

When Mr. Little suggests we didn't land it because we need to improve our "mass transit and change the zoning code to allow for more walkable developent," he is getting the cart before the horse.

I believe that if we want business, we have to "ask for it."  

I want to know what agent or employee of the City of Tulsa made a presentation to ConnocoPhilips and asked for this business?

I'm afraid the answer is "no one."

We were too busy getting the cart before the horse.  We were too busy developing a (take your pick) stadium, instead of developing income for citizens so that they can afford baseball tickets.




Gaspar

#8
quote:
Originally posted by Hometown


I want to know what agent or employee of the City of Tulsa made a presentation to ConnocoPhilips and asked for this business?

I'm afraid the answer is "no one."




+1
Ding ding ding!  We have a winner!


Business is done by people, and it's people who create, attract, and manipulate businesses.  

Cities must be run just like a business with the goal of making a profit, not by taxing their citizenry, but by attracting a loyal clientele that continue to find value in the product, and are not fearful of being penalized for the future ambitions of the city.

Unfortunately we have broken nearly every promise associated with taxes we have ever made.  We are unable to retire old taxes, and continuously find reasons to create new ones.  That's a big stain to hide under the carpet!  

We can fix it if we want to.

Tulsa needs a good sales force.  Smart commissioned sales people armed with the knowledge of everything that Tulsa has to offer.



When attacked by a mob of clowns, always go for the juggler.

TURobY

#9
If only we had a chamber that could be focused on commerce...
---Robert

Gaspar

quote:
Originally posted by TURobY

If only we had a chamber that could be focused on commerce...



They are.  It's just that they are more focused on commerce between members.  Only a select few engage in activities to promote and attract new companies to Tulsa.  

They need to shift gears and use the brilliance, force, and ingenuity of the entire membership to attract new businesses.  

There are hundreds successful entrepreneurial members of the Tulsa Chamber who each have dozens of out of state vendors and/or clients.  Imagine what would happen if each of these members made it a point to invite at least one CEO to visit Tulsa.  We could call it CEO to CEO, or CEO Squared.  Here I'll make a quick logo.



Now someone go make that a campaign!  



When attacked by a mob of clowns, always go for the juggler.

TURobY

Gas,

That's a killer idea.

I'd also like to propose, since it's difficult and expensive to fly down another company's CEO, that business leaders go on a letter campaign to their suppliers/partners/etc about doing business in Tulsa. The letters should discuss the ease of doing business, the affordable office/living prices, etc. Plus, the benefit of lower shipping/transport costs of doing business in the same town.

We could even gather these letters and make them part of a larger booklet that is sent to the executive teams of larger corporation via the City of Tulsa.
---Robert

Hometown

How about an aggressive media campaign focusing on Energy Industry Trade Journals?  

And a paid city contractor whose business it is to know what Energy companies are expanding, knows the board of directors of those companies, and knows what they are looking for in a new operation.

Back to basics Tulsa.  Give us good jobs with good pay and 95% of the rest of it will fall into place.


Gaspar

When attacked by a mob of clowns, always go for the juggler.

cannon_fodder

While I agree wholeheartedly with the need for a sales force (and I hope that is being done), we also need to remember the supply side.  High tech companies need high tech laborers.  I think we are working on addressing that with growing area colleges, but it is also a quality of life issue.

We have 5% unemployment, any company that wants to move a significant work force here will either have to initiate a small build up, or recruit.  As the recent departure of a small tech company illustrates, recruiting to Tulsa is not always easy.  Thus, the "cart" may be as important as the horse.

IMHO, both items need to happen congruently.  If we show that we are making progress towards being a shiny green city, we can attract and/or retain the educate young workforce we need to thrive.  At least, IMHO.

I hope the community leaders are putting (at least) as much thought into this as we are...
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I crush grooves.