Why Tulsa for Manufacturing?

BUILT FOR BOLD IDEAS
With deep industry expertise and a rising tech ecosystem, Tulsa is attracting forward-thinking companies across sectors. Whether you're scaling a startup or expanding operations, Tulsa delivers the environment and resources to thrive.
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SKILLED WORKERS

Scalable Regional Labor Force: A regional labor force of over 495,000 provides capacity for large-scale hiring and long-term expansion.
Established & Concentrated Manufacturing Sector: Manufacturing is the 3rd largest employment sector in the region, with over 36,000 production workers (8.1% of employment), a significantly higher concentration of talent than the U.S. average (5.7% of employment).
Talent Pipeline: Oklahoma's CareerTech system delivers work-ready graduates with a 96% positive placement rate, ensuring a consistent supply of skilled technical workers.

COMPETITIVE INCENTIVES + LOW COST

Payroll Advantage: Realize an 11% lower average wage rate, compared with the national average across all occupations, enabled by Tulsa’s exceptional quality of life and cost of living.
Direct Cash-Back on Payroll: The Quality Jobs Program provides a direct cash rebate of up to 5% of new payroll for 10 years, directly boosting your cash flow.
Zero Tax on Capital Investment: A 100% sales tax exemption on all qualifying manufacturing machinery and equipment alleviates major upfront capital expenditure.
Sustainable Overhead Reduction: Lock in lower fixed costs with industrial real estate 35% below and energy rates 22% below the U.S. average.

STRATEGIC LOCATION + INFRASTRUCTURE

Multimodal Transportation & Logistics Infrastructure: Access to Class I rail, Tulsa International Airport, and Tulsa Ports—home to the most inland port in the U.S.
Strategic Central U.S. Position: Reach more than 85 million people within a 500-mile radius, providing efficient access to major consumer and industrial markets across North America.
World-Class MRO Presence: Home to American Airlines' Tech Ops—the world's largest commercial aircraft maintenance base—employing nearly 5,000 skilled technicians.

INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM

Federally-Designated U.S. Tech Hub: Tulsa is an official U.S. Tech Hub for autonomous systems, providing significant federal investment in advanced manufacturing innovation.
De-Risked Technology Adoption: TARMAC provides expert guidance and resources to test and adopt new automation and production lines, minimizing R&D risk and connecting local SMMs directly to customers and OEM contracts.
Data-Driven Strategic Support: Regional programs that help you align employee training with your skill needs (Labor Market Observatory) and identify new production opportunities (Supply Chain Analysis Program).
World-Class University R&D: Access top-tier university research centers, including the University of Tulsa's facilities for materials science, corrosion, and advanced coatings.

Proven Success

JOIN INDUSTRY LEADERS IN TULSA
The Tulsa region is home to leading manufacturing companies, giving the area over a century of expertise in precision building and flexible production lines.
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MEDCAD USA

"We are excited to make the Tulsa Port of Catoosa the foundation of our U.S. growth. The flexibility provided by Oklahoma's new behind-the-meter law significantly de-risks our energy strategy. Coupled with the Port's infrastructure and the state's transportation network, the site is ideally suited for our next phase of innovation."

Candido Romero, CEO

CRUSOE ENERGY SYSTEMS

"Tulsa is absolutely the perfect place for us to scale up. The ability to hire quickly a large number of people, from engineering to manufacturing to safety — all these types of disciplines already exist here in Tulsa."

Cully Cavness, Co-Founder & President

NORSUN

"We knew we needed a partner who can work fast and efficiently to meet the critical need of American-made energy. Oklahoma impressed us even before our selection journey – its robust clean energy, manufacturing ecosystem and workforce development programs were already on our radar, and its competitive business offerings and site acceleration options solidified our decision.”
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Erik Løkke-Øwre, CEO

Good News Tulsa

Mecad USA selects Tulsa Port of Catoosa for U.S. headquarters. The Global advanced manufacturing firm bringing nearly 300 new jobs.
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Oklahoma’s Burgeoning Aluminum Hub Gets Boost With Agreement Between U.S. Aluminum Company and EGA, Century Aluminum.
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Oklahoma: The Critical State for Critical Minerals. Site Selector Magazine points out Oklahoma’s growing critical minerals industry cluster.
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How Tulsa Can Supercharge Your Manufacturing Business

CONNECT WITH US
Our team can provide additional information customized to your company’s interests, schedule site tours, and offer direct connections to help you evaluate Tulsa for your expansion or relocation.
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Scott Cooper

Head of Business Attraction

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Tested and Made in Tulsa, USA

Where American-made innovation scales with precision