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Focus Area: City Vibrancy

Overview

GKFF invests in initiatives that make Tulsa a more vibrant, welcoming, and innovative city. This focus area emphasizes cultural enrichment, placemaking, and economic opportunity to attract and retain talent, strengthen communities, and build a thriving local economy.

Data Sources

The KPIs in City Vibrancy draw from a combination of national datasets (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis), federal administrative programs (IRS Migration, LEHD/LODES), and ecosystem-level business datasets (ABS). Most indicators are refreshed annually, with some exceptions (e.g., entrepreneurship measures, migration data).

See each KPI for its specific source and most recent refresh date.

Placemaking

Placemaking efforts bring people together through public spaces, events, and programs that build a sense of belonging, improve quality of life, and make Tulsa a destination for families and visitors alike.

Key Performance Indicators

  • College and Graduate School Attainment: The percentage of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher, including graduate and professional degrees.
    • Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates
    • Refresh Date: September 2025
    • Note: ACS 1-year data not available for 2020.
  • Living Wage Jobs: The number of employed individuals earning wages at or above the defined living wage threshold per 1,000 residents.
    • Source: U.S. Census Bureau, LEHD Origin–Destination Employment Statistics (LODES)
    • Refresh Date: September 2025
    • Note: LODES data for 2023 and 2024 not yet released; periodic data gaps may occur due to non-participation or processing delays.
  • Workforce: Information: The number of workers employed in the information industry per 1,000 residents.
    • Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates
    • Refresh Date: September 2025
    • Note: ACS 1-year data not available for 2020.
  • Workforce: Manufacturing: The number of workers employed in the manufacturing industry per 1,000 residents.
    • Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates
    • Refresh Date: September 2025
    • Note: ACS 1-year data not available for 2020.
  • Workforce: Professional, Scientific and Technical Services: The number of workers employed in the professional, scientific, and technical industry per 1,000 residents.
    • Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates
    • Refresh Date: September 2025
    • Note: ACS 1-year data not available for 2020.
  • Workforce: Software Development: The number of workers employed in the software development industry per 1,000 residents (SOC 15-1252).
    • Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates
    • Refresh Date: September 2025
    • Note: ACS 1-year data not available for 2020.
  • Population Density: The number of residents per square mile of land area within a defined geography.
    • Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates
    • Refresh Date: September 2025
    • Note: ACS 1-year data not available for 2020.
  • Population Growth: The net percent change in total population over a defined time period due to births, deaths, and migration.
    • Source: U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program
    • Refresh Date: December 2024

Talent Attraction & Economic Growth

GKFF invests in programs that foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and workforce development, while attracting new talent to Tulsa to drive long-term economic prosperity.

Key Performance Indicators

  • College Attainment: The percentage of individuals ages 18 and over with a bachelor’s degree.
    • Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates
    • Refresh Date: September 2025
    • Note: ACS 1-year data not available for 2020.
  • Secondary Education Attainment: The percentage of the population with a secondary education degree or credential (high school diploma, GED, vocational certificate).
    • Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates
    • Refresh Date: September 2025
    • Note: ACS 1-year data not available for 2020.
  • Median Household Income: The annual median income across all households, regardless of size or composition.
    • Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates
    • Refresh Date: September 2025
    • Note: ACS 1-year data not available for 2020.
  • Living Wage Jobs: The number of employed individuals earning wages at or above the defined living wage threshold per 1,000 residents.
    • Source: U.S. Census Bureau, LEHD Origin–Destination Employment Statistics (LODES)
    • Refresh Date: September 2025
    • Note: LODES data for 2023 and 2024 not yet released; periodic data gaps may occur due to non-participation or processing delays.
  • Workforce: Information: The number of workers employed in the information industry per 1,000 residents.
    • Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates
    • Refresh Date: September 2025
    • Note: ACS 1-year data not available for 2020.
  • Workforce: Manufacturing: The number of workers employed in the manufacturing industry per 1,000 residents.
    • Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates
    • Refresh Date: September 2025
    • Note: ACS 1-year data not available for 2020.
  • Workforce: Professional, Scientific and Technical Services: The number of workers employed in the professional, scientific, and technical industry per 1,000 residents.
    • Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates
    • Refresh Date: September 2025
    • Note: ACS 1-year data not available for 2020.
  • Workforce: Software Development: The number of workers employed in the software development industry per 1,000 residents (SOC 15-1252).
    • Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates
    • Refresh Date: September 2025
    • Note: ACS 1-year data not available for 2020.
  • Employment in Young Firms: The percentage of all firms that were founded within the past five years.
    • Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Business Survey (ABS)
    • Refresh Date: September 2025
  • Woman-Owned Businesses: The percentage of all businesses owned by individuals identifying as a woman.
    • Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ABS
    • Refresh Date: August 2024
    • Note: Ownership totals include “equally-owned” category; ACS data used for regional comparison.
  • Minority-Owned Businesses: The percentage of all businesses owned by individuals identifying as a member of a racial or ethnic minority group.
    • Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ABS
    • Refresh Date: August 2024
  • Net Migration: Number of individuals moving into a region minus the number moving out.
    • Source: Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income
    • Refresh Date: May 2025