Representatives from global consulting firm Ernst & Young recently discussed how the Tulsa Regional Chamber’s economic development and tourism initiatives can synchronize and maximize efforts in the years ahead through a collaborative work plan. 

Developed in collaboration with Ernst & Young, “Bridge to the Future 2030” is a five-year strategic plan that will begin in 2025 and run through 2029.

Ernst & Young’s Rod Garvin and Tony DeLisi outlined the strategic plan at the Chamber’s Board of Directors meeting on Monday.  

“This is an interesting area because traditionally tourism and economic development have been relatively siloed,” said Rod Garvin, U.S. economic development advisory manager for Ernst & Young. “We’re just at a point where they are thinking about what that integration is. 

“Nobody has quite figured it out. Tulsa has a chance to really lead in this area of bringing these two different functions together, leveraging the great quality of life and assets that you have.” 

The four-pronged strategic plan focuses on business attraction, business retention and expansion, talent attraction and workforce alignment, as well as regional promotion to national and even international audiences. 

Tulsa’s Future is the Chamber’s regional economic development organization. Since its inception in 2005, more than 200 companies and organizations have invested in Tulsa’s Future, which has generated more than 80,000 jobs and more than $6 billion in capital investment.

 Tulsa Regional Tourism is partly funded by a City of Tulsa lodging tax, which surpassed $4 million ($4.2 million) in revenue for the first time in 2023. 

“There’s a lot of tremendous stuff here, but there is more work that can be done,” said DeLisi, U.S. Economic Development Advisory Services senior manager for Ernst & Young. “There’s more work to get people to recognize this and understand all that you can offer in this tremendous community and great place to live and work.”

For several years, consultant Development Counsellors International(DCI) has worked with the Chamber to elevate its national profile 

Earlier this month, DCI arranged Tulsa-centric media interviews with outlets such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal during a Tulsa delegation’s trip to New York City to see the Broadway premiere of “The Outsiders” musical. 

“Probably what excites me the most is we’re really looking at joining forces with tourism this time on not just the campaign but also on the PR (public relations) effort,” said Justin McLaughlin, executive vice president and chief operating officer for the Chamber. 

The current three-year iteration of Tulsa’s Future, known as Acceleration, runs through the end of this year. Since Acceleration began in 2022, Tulsa’s Future has created nearly 8,000 jobs and generated $3.4 billion in capital investment.