Remote Workers Contribute Over $51 Million To Tulsa’s Economy

The country’s largest remote work program is having great results, and more is certainly to come. 

Tulsa Remote, which was launched in 2018, has brought in over 2,000 remote workers to the city of Tulsa by marketing itself as an inexpensive, lively haven for like-minded professionals.

Tulsa Remote saw its applicants more than double in 2021, adding an additional $62 million in local earnings — $51.3 million of which is attributed to new remote workers in the area. 

The program offers participants a $10,000 stipend to relocate to the city for at least one year, while also providing workers with access to coworking spaces, networking events and social meetups. 

In the years prior to the pandemic, large cities were viewed as the best hubs for career advancement opportunities, despite their high cost of living.  

However, now that work is more distributed than ever before, southern and midwestern regions have been given a unique opportunity for growth.

“The economic and social impact of the Tulsa Remote program is remarkable,” said Prithwiraj Choudhury, Associate Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School.   

“Tulsa Remote is creating opportunities not only for the city of Tulsa but is also setting an example for many other heartland cities. Tulsa Remote provides a playbook for how to engage participants and create value for the community in the heartland.”