Local officials hope a new entrepreneur hub located downtown helps rev Tulsa’s economic engine.
The hub, named 36 Degrees North, is now open in the Universal Ford building. Brian Paschal with the Tulsa Regional Chamber said 82 percent of Tulsa companies have 10 or fewer employees.
"Start-ups and small businesses are the heart of our regional economy," Paschal said. "Now, with the opening of 36 Degrees North, the region has a dedicated environment for entrepreneurs to explore their passions, develop new businesses and generate economic wealth."
The George Kaiser Family Foundation, Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation, Tulsa Regional Chamber and Tulsa Tech are among the partners supporting 36 Degrees North.
Aaron Miller with George Kaiser Family Foundation said the hub's home, the Brady Arts District, has come a long way over the last few years.
"36 Degrees North represents the next step in the evolution of this downtown neighborhood to truly become a 24/7 district that supports creative office and employment," Miller said.
Executive Director Dustin Curzon said 36 Degrees North will host more than 500 events and workshops this year.
"We're going to host our first-ever Mom-preneur coworking day," Curzon said. "We're thrilled about this. Working with Seeking Sitters, moms will be able to come and we'll have professional child care here. You can drop your kids off and actually spend a few hours working on that business idea that you've wanted to work on."
Curzon said they’re opening with 156 members and more than 40 partner organizations.
