Economic Impact Report

Building a Knowledge Economy, One Worker at a Time

The Tulsa Remote program builds a modern economy by bringing financial and social gains to a heartland city traditionally known for oil and gas and manufacturing.

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$306.7 million

As of December 2022, 2,165 members have relocated through the Tulsa Remote program, and they generated $306.7 million in direct employment income.

$203 million

In 2022 alone, the 1,852 Tulsa Remote members living in Tulsa contributed more than an estimated $203 million in new labor income to the city of Tulsa.

$2.5 million

The economic activity that these program members created led to estimated new sales tax revenue of $2.5 million for Tulsa County and $3.1 million for the state of Oklahoma.

$150,937

Last year alone, each Tulsa Remote member generated more than $150,937 in labor income—a return of nearly 12 times over program expenses that Tulsa Remote paid out.

76% retention

Retention is strong: of the total members who have joined since 2019 and completed their program year, 76 percent still lived in Tulsa at the end of 2022.

Multiplier Effect

Thanks to the multiplier effect of friends and family joining members in Tulsa, the city gains three residents for every two Tulsa Remote program participants. These “magnet movers” counterbalance program members who leave Tulsa by well over two to one.

Montana Cain heard about Tulsa and Tulsa Remote when she was looking for a fresh start in late 2020. “Tulsa was most appealing due to the history of Black Wall Street and the incentive itself,” she says. She was referring in part to the Greenwood District of Tulsa that in the early 1920s was one of the most prosperous Black communities in the U.S. before a racial massacre against Black residents destroyed it. For some, moving to Tulsa is part of an inspirational effort to counter that dark past and rebuild in a more inclusive way. Montana moved here from South Carolina in March 2021, and a year later left her job to become a full-time entrepreneur, offering educational consulting services.

Montana Cain, Moved from Columbia, SC

During the pandemic, Elena Haskins relocated from New York City to Tulsa, seeking a more desirable work-life balance. At the time of her move, she was working as a freelance UX designer. Since arriving in Tulsa, Elena has established her own UX design studio, hired local people to work for her team, and launched an online mentorship program for aspiring UX designers, which has successfully graduated three cohorts. Within eight months of living in Tulsa, her income doubled from the previous year. With her renewed perspective on life-work balance, Elena has also taken up rock climbing, enrolled in German and Spanish courses and joined the German-American Society of Tulsa.

Elena Haskins, Moved from New York City, NY

Obum Ukabum was one of the first Tulsa Remote participants. He and his wife, Faith Walker, who was not a member, moved here from Southern California in 2019. Faith opened her own restaurant and has hired 17 local Tulsans. Obum says getting off the L.A. freeways has given him more time, resources and flexibility to give back to the community. Now he volunteers with the Tulsa Speech and Debate League, serves on the board of Leadership Tulsa, directs musicals with Tulsa Theatre, and coaches youth soccer.

Obum Ukabum, Moved from Los Angeles, CA

Jackiez Gonzales was one of our first 30 members, moving to Tulsa from Boston. When not working remotely on the corporate social impact team of Best Buy, she hosts Vamos a Practicar, a monthly Spanish-language study group of Tulsa Remote members, and serves as chair of Tulsa’s Young Professionals, among other activities.

Jackiez Gonzales, Moved from Boston, MA