A missed opportunity

[Hometown]

We have the critical mass of Energy Industry to build on.  We have Energy Industry good will.  While we need to grow these other attributes Cannon, there is enough here to go after the Energy Industry right now.  We don't need another excuse why we can't go for it today.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by 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...

well, even if unemployment went up, it doesn't mean that there are QUALIFIED people.  My company constantly has 20-30 open positions, but there is never anyone qualified.  The high tech work force in this town is actually pretty small, as evidenced by the headhunters constantly bugging me and my wife about jobs.  I can also attest from my wife's experience that some of these stupid companies don't know when to pull the trigger when they've got a good one....they try to create a sense of over supply when in fact they desparately need people.  Hence several of them calling AFTER she took a sweet offer to try and get her to take their lame jobs.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by Hometown

We have the critical mass of Energy Industry to build on.  We have Energy Industry good will.  While we need to grow these other attributes Cannon, there is enough here to go after the Energy Industry right now.  We don't need another excuse why we can't go for it today.

there is not a qualified work force here to fill the jobs the energy sector needs right now.  I think you have a pretty backwards view of the energy sector.

the energy sector here in town cherry picks from each other as it is.  If you are a good geologist or petroleum engineer you can name your price in this town.  the sad thing is companies can't keep doing that forever.  something has to give and that could mean more companies moving away because there are just nothing but roughnecks to pick from.

[FOTD]

quote:Originally posted by 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...

True!

Downtown should be transformed into a high tech instructional center and an innovation incubator. Would do wonders for mixed uses in east end.

[Kenosha]

For what it is worth...I am positive Phillips did not solicit this project.  Houston did not end up with it either.  They bought an old industrial facility in Boulder County, and decided to build there.  I wouldn't underestimate the factor that is the proximity of this facility to the Colorado Shale.  I guarantee what they wanted was close access to that difficult, but untapped source.

[apriltheimp]

Any business looking to relocate, first will look at the demographics of the area. Tulsa may have some good colleges, but if the Elementary, Middle & Highschool students are not on grade level, high drop out rates, this is the very first thing that will turn a prospective business away. Schools, Taxes & Incentives, home buying,& general up keep of the city as a whole are key eye openers. The overall comprehensive plan for Tulsa is really in need of a massive change, & I'm glad to see its being done.

[cannon_fodder]

Per the schools... studies on this note are all over the board.  They take different things into account so the picture is not entirely clear.  For  one thing, transfers from one school to another count as a drop out - and Tulsa is an open enrollment district.  So the same kid can "drop out" a couple times from Tulsa schools and still graduate.

Other districts are not open enrollment.  Dropping out either means you moved cities or you really really dropped out. So view the numbers with some suspicion.  

In any event, Tulsa is in line with other cities we wish to emulate.  Albuquerque and Portland both have high-tech industries (Intel), Austin is renowned for high tech jobs.  All of those location have similar graduation rates to Tulsa.  Denver has a significantly worse graduation rate, as does Oklahoma city.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2006-06-20-dropout-rates_x.htm#grad
http://www.kktv.com/schools/headlines/17224639.html

So I'd say that is not the key element.  Something I'd love to see worked on, but there is only so much the community can do.  Most of the work of getting a kid to graduate is on the parents, and if the parents don't give a sh!t...  then a 50/50 shot is about all you have.  Sad, but true.

[SXSW]

Education is a big key to attracting future hightech/research jobs to Tulsa.  OKC is able to do it in the medical/biotech sector because of the OUHSC and because both OU and UCO (large comprehensive state-funded universities) are within the OKC Metro.  Tulsa doesn't have those resources for that particular field but we CAN be a player for other hightech operations, including those dealing with energy and aviation.  Getting in on the renewable energy bandwagon would be wise as well, and I think we'll see some of our local companies start to do that.  

In the mean time making OSU-Tulsa a larger, more comprehensive university should be a higher priority as well as expanding OU-Tulsa.  That gives the city potentially two public universities, one downtown and one midtown, that could essentially work together to offer different programs i.e. OSU-Tulsa more in the way of business, technology, and engineering while OU-Tulsa could offer more in the way of science and medical programs (like they already do).

[Gaspar]

Interesting city:  Voted #3 in the country

They have far less state income tax than us, and it is a Flat Tax.  Since it was established as a flat tax it has been going down.  They also have less sales tax and a history of sales tax accountability.

The residential taxes are also low at 1%.

18 to 1 student/teacher ratio in schools.

For population 25 years and over in Louisville
High school or higher: 96.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 59.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 22.3%
Unemployed: 2.0%
Mean travel time to work: 22.3 minutes

Not very diverse.

[cannon_fodder]

twizzler, if we are going to nitpick on the city, then OKC has very little education as OU is in Norman.  

Louisville is right next to metro Denver (and in the Combined MSA area), though not the city proper.  For all practical purposes, Denver and Boulder are one metro area now anyway.  I used Denver because when considering an area generally stats are available for the largest school district - which in that area is Denver.  Tulsa could point to it's magnet schools, Owasso, Union, Jenks, BA... or it's non-failing TPS schools.

Anyway, for education level - Tulsa is much better than most people give it credit for:
http://www.bizjournals.com/specials/pages/13.html

Ranking 19 out of 50 when looking at large metro areas (otherwise Iowa City, Stillwater, Fayetteville, College Station etc. win for obvious reasons).  We are above KC, Wichita, Sacramento, Dallas, Pheonix, Chicaco....  Denver ranked #14, I doubt that was the deciding factor and certainly we were not far enough back in the pack to not make an argument.

And not that I'm saying we shouldn't seek higher education rates in Tulsa.
- - -


I'm not saying Tulsa was the clear choice or that we *should* have been able to land this.  I'm simply saying opportunities like this should be pursued.   Tulsa has a relatively highly educated populace, a low cost of living, a 4 season climate with mild winters, and many other attributes to sell to business - cheap labor force, growing economy, central location, etc.  

Any one thing is not a bust, we can lose many of the fights.  But I want to be in them.  Winning just one this large would be HUGE for Tulsa.  

I just want to see Tulsa step it up.  High income, tech jobs would certainly help.

[Gaspar]

Looks like most of the population of Louisville drives into Denver for work, so the city was prime for a big business to move in.  

Lets see:
Lower taxes (saving millions of $).
Responsible spending.
Lower unemployment insurance rates.
Higher education.
An employed population with an oppressive commute.
Almost zero crime.
Schools are between 28% and 50% above the national average for test scores.

Rather than moaning about the decision, why don't we use cities like this as role models.  Sure this is a small city, but the statistics are why the decision was made.  This was a business decision, based on the fact that Louisville, CO would cost Phillips less, produce more, and provide a workforce capable of the jobs offered.  A responsible taxation, education, and economic development record make for an impressive resume.

112 golf courses within 30 minutes doesn't hurt either!

[Hometown]

Well, let's see if we can come up with 500 more reasons why we have to be second rate.  After all second rate is less demanding.  Our life here is kind of soft and lazy.  More competition means change and more work.

Inteller, I went to art school, I know next to nothing about the energy business.  But, I'm not surprised that local companies cherry pick from local companies instead of hiring from outside the area.

I have looked for universal principles that might apply here.  The only investment I have in energy is the disappointment that I feel when I see what has happened to my hometown during the course of my life.

Now, honestly, as much as I would like it, I do not expect Tulsa to change course, get focused and do much of anything.  Cities like people are consistent.

I would expect that if anything along these lines actually happens it will come from the private sector.  It doesn't take a whole lot of fired up individuals to make something happen.  Even one well placed advocate for Tulsa's energy sector could make a difference.

There is also the matter of the local old money families that "have to make money on the deal" for anything to happen in Tulsa.  Maybe that's like figuring in the cost of mob payments to do business in New York.  Just the cost of doing business in T-town.

Serious new money might change the equation one day.  New money is so much bigger than old money ever was.

Anyway, my working life is largely behind me.  But I sure would like to see Tulsa sparkle again.

[Oil Capital]

In related news...

NATCO to move R&D from Tulsa

[Townsend]

quote:Originally posted by Oil Capital

In related news...

NATCO to move R&D from Tulsa

Super.  Thanks for the boost.

[we vs us]

Ouch.  The Great Tulsa Brain Drain continues apace.