Community and Economic Development Strategy, Tulsa
City of Tulsa
HR&A developed a comprehensive strategy for the City of Tulsa to restructure community and economic development services across seven departments, authorities, and commissions, leading to the creation of the Tulsa Authority for Economic Opportunity (TAEO), known as Partner Tulsa. We then developed a three-year strategic plan for the new independent entity, establishing its mission, operational frameworks, and equity-focused performance metrics to advance racial equity and shared prosperity.
Tulsa’s community and economic development work spans seven separate entities including city departments, authorities, and commissions, limiting the city’s ability to reduce inequities along racial, ethnic, and geographic boundaries while strengthening its regional economic competitiveness. HR&A conducted organizational review of the ecosystem, working with local staff committees and two sub-consultants to execute community engagement incorporating diverse stakeholder perspectives. Our analysis revealed consolidation opportunities and informed the City’s decision to create a single, independent economic development entity foundational to advancing equitable outcomes while strengthening economic competitiveness. The City ultimately decided to launch TAEO in early 2021 as a new independent entity with a mission centered on advancing racial equity and shared prosperity.
HR&A then developed TAEO’s inaugural strategic plan through working sessions with leadership and staff, dynamic online public engagement, and best practice research from national precedents. We facilitated development of the entity’s mission, vision, and values while creating frameworks for repositioning resources and initiatives for maximum alignment with organizational goals. The strategic plan establishes core initiatives including citywide economic development strategies that bring collaborators together; programs and policies leveraging public-private collaboration for equitable outcomes; new pathways to quality employment; support for small businesses and entrepreneurs of color; and neighborhood infrastructure investments delivering inclusive economic development across Tulsa’s diverse communities.
