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Focus Area: Strong Neighborhoods

Overview

GKFF invests in the revitalization of Tulsa neighborhoods to promote safe, vibrant, and equitable communities. This focus area emphasizes housing, economic mobility, and place-based strategies to strengthen families and create opportunities for long-term success.

Data Sources

Neighborhood KPIs are powered by national data sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics, combined with local data from the City of Tulsa and Tulsa County, and GKFF-supported program data. Most indicators are updated annually, and some neighborhood-level data are refreshed quarterly as new sources become available.

Neighborhood Pillars

  • East Tulsa: East Tulsa is the energetic center of Tulsa’s Latino and Asian communities. Through Elevate East, partnerships among residents, local organizations, public entities, and private partners are forging pathways to prosperity.
    • Catchment: Comprised of Census Tracts 53; 71.01; 71.02; 73.04; 73.06; 73.08; 73.09; 73.10; 73.11; 73.12; 73.13; 73.14; 74.09; 83; 84; 85.01; 89; 90.06; 90.08; 90.10; 90.13; 90.14; 90.15; 90.16; 90.17; 90.19; 304.03, aligning with the Elevate East project boundary (Highway 169 to 145th Street; 11th Street to 31st Street).
  • Kendall Whittier: Tulsa’s historic Kendall Whittier neighborhood is a cultural cornerstone, with public and private partnerships driving affordable housing, revitalizing public spaces, and expanding educational opportunities to strengthen and sustain the area.
    • Catchment: Based on ZIP Codes 74110 and 74112, corresponding to GKFF’s Kendall Whittier impact area.
  • North Tulsa: InvestNorth partners with residents and community-driven organizations in historically Black north Tulsa to create transformational possibilities for families, while celebrating and honoring the community’s legacy.
    • Catchment: Comprised of Census Tracts 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12; 13; 15; 16; 17; 18; 19; 22; 24; 25; 26; 27; 28.01; 28.02; 29; 30; 31; 32; 33; 34; 35; 36; 37; 38; 39; 40; 41.01; 41.02; 42; 43; 44; 45; 46; 47; 48; 49; 50.06; 50.07; 50.08, representing the InvestNorth geographic footprint.

Shared Key Performance Indicators

These KPIs are applied consistently across each neighborhood pillar to measure progress and compare outcomes side by side:

  • Families Earning Living Wage: The number of families earning between $35,000 and $49,999 annually per 1,000 residents.
    • Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), 1-Year Estimates
    • Refresh Date: September 2025
    • Notes:
      • ACS 1-year estimates are not available for 2020, resulting in a gap for all geographies.
      • Neighborhood-level values rely on ACS 5-year estimates, for which 2023 is the most recent release; therefore 2024 estimates are not yet available for East Tulsa, Kendall Whittier, or North Tulsa.
      • Tulsa County values use ACS 1-year estimates, which are available for 2024.
  • 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
    • Notes:
      • LODES Workplace Area Characteristics (WAC) files for 2023 and 2024 have not yet been released, resulting in unavailable data for those years.
      • National-level data exclude certain states due to LEHD partnership gaps or processing delays, which may create discontinuities in comparisons.
  • 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
    • Notes:
      • ACS 1-year estimates unavailable for 2020.
      • Neighborhood estimates rely on ACS 5-year data; thus 2024 estimates are not yet available.
      • Tulsa County values use ACS 1-year data, available for 2024.
  • 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
    • Notes:
      • 2020 1-year estimates unavailable.
      • 2024 neighborhood-level values unavailable due to reliance on ACS 5-year estimates (latest 2023).
      • County-level data use ACS 1-year estimates, which are available for 2024.
  • 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
    • Notes:
      • 2020 ACS 1-year estimates unavailable.
      • 2024 neighborhood estimates unavailable (ACS 5-year data latest 2023).
      • County-level data use ACS 1-year estimates, which are available for 2024.
  • Workforce: Software Development: The number of workers employed in the software development industry per 1,000 residents.
    • Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates
    • Refresh Date: September 2025
    • Notes:
      • ACS 1-year estimates missing for 2020.
      • Neighborhood-level 2024 values unavailable (5-year estimate dependency).
      • County-level data use ACS 1-year estimates, which are available for 2024.
  • 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
    • Notes:
      • 2020 ACS 1-year estimates unavailable.
      • Neighborhood-level 2024 values unavailable due to reliance on 5-year ACS estimates (latest 2023).
      • County-level data use ACS 1-year estimates, which are available for 2024.
  • 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