Tulsa Successfully Enticed Remote Workers, And Now They’re Sticking Around

Since the onset of the pandemic, many programs have emerged to entice remote workers into cities. However, perhaps no city has been more successful than Tulsa. 

Tulsa Remote is a program that provides remote workers with $10,000 in relocation costs to move to the city for one year. Workers that are accepted into the program also receive access to a coworking space, rent specials and more. 

The program, which launched in 2018 prior to the pandemic, has proved to be successful, with 20,000 people applying to become temporary Tulsa residents last year. 

“What’s unique about Tulsa Remote compared to other incentive programs is it started well before the pandemic, and we were looking at the prediction that more people would be able to work remotely, given the way tech jobs were developing,” said Caroline Glennon, a Tulsa Remote spokesperson. “So once the pandemic hit, we did see a dramatic increase in applications, and they’ve been steadily increasing since.”   

While on the surface Tulsa may seem like a random choice, it’s clear why workers are enticed. Tulsa boasts big cities amenities with a low cost of living. In fact, median rent in Tulsa is 39% below the national average.