Hundreds of Californians, including Cynthia Rollins, have relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma, through the Tulsa Remote program, which offers $10,000 to remote workers who move to the city for at least a year. Rollins, originally from California, moved to Tulsa in November 2020 after feeling overwhelmed by the crowded conditions in her San Diego neighborhood during the pandemic.
The Tulsa Remote program, launched in 2019, aims to attract remote workers to diversify Tulsa’s economy, traditionally reliant on the oil and gas industry. Since its inception, the program has attracted over 3,600 remote workers, with more than 7,800 Californians applying and 539 making the move, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The program, funded by the George Kaiser Family Foundation, offers more than just financial incentives. It provides new residents with volunteer and socializing opportunities, as well as a membership at a co-working space for 36 months. The initiative has been beneficial for Tulsa, returning over $4 to the local economy for every $1 spent on attracting remote workers.
The lower cost of living in Tulsa has been a significant draw for many, including Zach Meincke and his wife, Katie, who moved from Los Angeles. They found a more affordable lifestyle in Tulsa, allowing them to start a family and buy a home, something they couldn’t achieve in California. Meincke noted, “There was no way we were going to move into a house in Los Angeles unless we had roommates.”
The program has been successful in retaining new residents, with 96% of Tulsa Remote members staying longer than a year and 70% remaining since 2019. Justin Harlan, managing director of Tulsa Remote, explained, “We really were looking to attract knowledge workers to the city of Tulsa, which we knew would help create an economy that was resilient for the future.”
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