About Tulsa Economic Development
To create economic vitality in communities by encouraging small business growth.
Focus Areas
small business loansmicroloansSBA 504 financingretail revitalization financingentrepreneurial training and educationtechnical assistance
Who They Fund
small business ownersmicroentrepreneurs / start‑upsretail business proprietors in commercial corridorsentrepreneurs needing technical assistance / business planningcommunity organizations involved in local development
Funding Style
loan‑focused / CDFI lending
About Tulsa Economic Development
Tulsa Economic Development Corporation’s recent grantmaking centers on financing for small businesses, with loan products that range from microloans to SBA 504 fixed-asset financing and retail revitalization capital. The organization’s active programs show a lender-style approach: business capital, technical assistance, and specialized financing for entrepreneurs, developers, and corridor-based retail projects. A distinctive feature is the reBUILD Tulsa Developer Academy, where winning teams compete for a $50,000 zero-interest loan tied to residential development training. The foundation’s largest recent grant was $2,243,309 to Young Mens Christian Association of Greater Tulsa for its organizational purpose. Beyond that single grant, Tulsa Economic Development Corporation’s program portfolio points to a broad local development mandate. It offers a Tulsa Business Loan for local small-business capital, a City of Tulsa Small Business Loan for businesses within city limits, and a Disaster Relief Loans for Businesses option for Oklahoma firms facing disruption. The organization also supports entrepreneurs through technical and management assistance alongside lending. Its stated purpose is to create economic vitality in communities by encouraging small business growth.
What Tulsa Economic Development Funds
Small business financing is the clearest through line in Tulsa Economic Development Corporation’s work. The Tulsa Business Loan supports Tulsa-area businesses with local capital, while the Tulsa Small Business Loan, administered with the City of Tulsa, is designed for start-up and growing businesses within city limits and prioritizes job creation or retention. Technical assistance is paired with lending in the microloan program, which serves startups and growing small businesses in Oklahoma and can cover working capital, furniture, inventory, supplies, and payroll. For larger capital needs, the SBA 504 Loan supports commercial real estate and major equipment purchases through fixed-asset financing. The organization also funds development capacity building. Through reBUILD Tulsa Developer Academy, teams completing residential development training can compete for a $50,000 zero-interest loan.
How Tulsa Economic Development Gives
Tulsa Economic Development Corporation’s typical grant size is listed at $2,243,309 for the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile, reflecting a very concentrated grant pattern in the available data. The recent-grants record shows one disclosed grant in 2024, and the same recipient type does not appear across multiple years in the provided material. The organization functions as a loan-focused economic development corporation rather than a traditional grantmaker. Its active programs are structured as lending products, revolving capital, and loan participation vehicles. Unsolicited applications are accepted for the listed programs, including local business loans, microloans, SBA 504 lending, and disaster relief financing.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$2.2M
Total Assets
$30.3M
Total Revenue
$5M
Total Expenses
$5M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $2.2M and $2.2M, with a median of $2.2M.
25th Percentile
$2.2M
Median
$2.2M
75th Percentile
$2.2M
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
About 100% of grants go to recipients in OK.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
ROSE WASHINGTON
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