The Tulsa 100

Would you move to Tulsa for a year for $10,000? That’s what the Tulsa Remote program asked when it formed in 2018, inviting remote workers to move to Tulsa for one year in return for cash, help with locating housing, space in a co-working office and community events.

More than 2,400 people applied, accepted the offer and moved to Tulsa, where many have chosen to stay. The program just released an Economic Impact Report which shows that as of the end of 2022, Tulsa Remote members generated $206.7 million in direct employment income and $203 million in new labor income.

– Staff Report, The Oklahoma 100

36 Degrees North works with small businesses and entrepreneurs by providing workshops, training sessions and office space. And when those companies grow, they pump millions of dollars into Tulsa’s economy.

Sounds like a lucrative win-win.

Billing itself as a basecamp for entrepreneurs, startups and innovators, in 2022 36 Degrees North helped 430 companies that launched 140 products, created 2,453 jobs and filed 32 patents. It has 2,135 co-working members and partnered with Tulsa Tech to launch STARTERS, a seven-week bootcamp for innovators.

In the past five years the company has made an impact of $859.9 million on the Tulsa economy.

– Staff Report, The Oklahoma 100

Route 66 covers almost 2,500 miles. Oklahoma has the longest stretch of any state, at over 400 miles.

Visitors who travel the 28-mile stretch in Tulsa will notice it’s a bit brighter than it used to be with the addition of more than 50 neon signs. The City of Tulsa’s Route 66 Commission decided to start a Route 66 Neon Sign Grant to do something impactful on those 28 miles that would draw businesses. Neon signs have been traditional bright spots along the Mother Road.

Business owners can apply for the grants to refurbish existing signs or erect new ones. 

– Staff Report, The Oklahoma 100

For almost 60 years, the Hi-Way Cafe in Vinita has been a popular stop for old-fashioned hamburgers and other diner food on Route 66. Now it has a new claim to fame. It just won a Guinness World Record for putting the most stickers on a car – a whopping 60,066 stickers, beating the previous record of 41,500.

Owner Beth Hilburn bought a 1963 American Rambler for the project. Seven days and countless volunteers later, the car was done and ready for inspection. It is on display at the diner and visitors are welcome to add their own stickers to the car.

– Staff report, The Oklahoma 100

Watch the new crime drama “Tulsa King,” and you may see some familiar locations. Although some scenes were filmed in New York City, the series was primarily shot in Oklahoma. Tulsa scenes were filmed at Tulsa International Airport, The Center of the Universe, the Mayo Hotel and Triangle Coffee Roasters.

Filming locations in Oklahoma City include Prairie Surf Media where the production offices were, Dust Bowl Lanes and Lounge, Cattlemen’s Steakhouse and National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

The series stars Sylvester Stallone in his first TV series as a mafia capo who moves to Tulsa to start a new criminal empire.

– Staff report, The Oklahoma 100

It’s been a rough couple of years in the tourism business, but the tourists have come back to Tulsa in a big way. Tulsa Regional Tourism reported its highest numbers ever at its annual meeting for its fiscal year 2022, which ended in June.

TRT reported a record $359 million total economic impact, well above its pre-pandemic amount of $308.2 million in fiscal year 2019. Area hotel room sales were also up substantially from 217,104 in fiscal year 2019 to 231,154.

In 2022, the team at TRT also re-launched the Official Tulsa Visitor Guide, which is published quarterly and available online.

– Staff report, The Oklahoma 100