Tech funding, thousands of new jobs expected to boost city for years

The recently announced $51 million federal grant for tech innovations and production could change Tulsa for generations to come, officials said.

The funding will go to the Tulsa Hub for Equitable & Trustworthy Autonomy, a consortium led by Tulsa Innovation Labs.

“This is a momentous occasion,” Jennifer Hankins, managing director of Tulsa Innovation Labs, said to supporters and partners who gathered to celebrate the THETA announcement last week.

“This funding will continue to propel the greater Tulsa region forward as a global hub.”

Up to 56,000 new jobs over the next 10 years are projected with the grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration.

Tulsa was one of 12 locations selected out of 31 cities initially designated “tech hubs” last year.

The new center will be led by Black Tech Street in the Greenwood District, said Tyrance Billingsley II, founder and executive director of the organization.

A timetable for the new AI center has not yet been determined.

“I can’t remember the last time African-Americans were so heavily centered around tech hubs. It’s incredible,” Billingsley said. “It’s going to re-validate both the vision for Black Wall Street and technology. We want the nation to take note of how this happens. It’s been an incredible, incredible ride.”

Tulsa’s grant amount among the 12 cities receiving funding was the largest. Programs in Indiana, Illinois and Ohio also received about $51 million each.

The lowest amount, about $21 million, was awarded to a program in south Florida.

Before last week’s event, Hankins told the Tulsa World in an exclusive interview that the funding will be used not only for research but also for production locally.

“This is all about creating new opportunities,” she said. “This doesn’t mean we need 56,000 new Tulsans here to do that. These are jobs and skills that Tulsans largely already have.”

Hankins said new technologies involving drones and robotics, for example, will be developed and manufactured here.

“We want Tulsa and Tulsans to be making those things and building those things in Tulsa that people all over the globe are using,” she said. “It’s not about how do we use robotics so much as it is, no, we want to manufacture robotics here and put Tulsans to work on those things.”

In addition to the AI center, THETA has leveraged funding to support projects that will:

• Increase coordination on commercialization strategies among universities and the startups they support;
• Build a state-of-the-art testing and simulation environment — with a focus on cyber and data management — for companies, researchers and regulatory entities to address barriers to commercial adoption;
• Develop programs to identify opportunities for manufacturers in supply chains and build out a manufacturing demonstration center where small companies can scale their capabilities;
• Expand workforce programs to align training with industry needs, provide upskilling and offer on-the-job training opportunities; and
• Establish governance structures to execute projects, pursue additional funding and drive the hub’s strategy.

The exact grant amount will be finalized in the coming months, officials said.

Tulsa Innovation Labs spent 18 months preparing and writing its grant proposal.

“I think the Tulsa way is to collaborate with a lot of intention,” said Ken Levit, executive director of the George Kaiser Family Foundation, which led the effort to establish Tulsa Innovation Labs.

“These opportunities don’t come around very often. It takes an incredible amount of effort to compete effectively to win them, and they (Tulsa Innovation Labs) rose to the occasion in a major way. It will pay dividends for decades to come.”

Gov. Kevin Stitt said in a statement: “I’m grateful to organizations like Tulsa Innovation Labs, the George Kaiser Family Foundation and their partners for all their hard work to drive innovation to make Oklahoma a leader in secure autonomous systems.

“These groups and their partners are working with us to secure our state’s economic future while simultaneously contributing to our national security and elevating Oklahoma’s international competitive standing.”

Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum said in a statement: “This is a defining moment for Tulsa. We’ve long been considered a leader in aerospace and aviation, and this investment recognizes Tulsa’s Tech Hub for our ability to develop the future of these technologies. There is no better place to create the next generation of autonomous systems like drones than here in Tulsa.”

Cherokee Nation Businesses is among the local entities that will receive funding.

“We’re always excited to see a project such as THETA that improves the regional economy and has the potential to help Cherokee Nation Businesses expand into the autonomous systems and component manufacturing industry, support growing defense and commercial needs and shore up critical supply chains,” said Chuck Garrett, chief executive officer of CNB.

With the grants, the Biden administration is trying to encourage more technological innovation across the country, instead of allowing it be concentrated in a few metro areas such as San Francisco, Seattle, Boston and New York City, The Associated Press reported.

“We are incredibly proud to be part of THETA, and this funding will launch Tulsa’s position as a global leader in autonomous systems,” Tulsa Community College President and CEO Leigh Goodson said in a statement. “TCC offers a wide range of programs preparing students for careers in cybersecurity, aerospace and engineering.”