October 2018
Whirlpool announces $55 million Tulsa expansion
Whirlpool Corporation plans to expand its operations in Tulsa with the addition of a new, $55 million Factory Distribution Center (FDC). Adjacent to its existing manufacturing plant, the warehouse will support increased production capacity, adding 150 manufacturing jobs. Construction on the 800,000-square-foot facility is expected to complete in December 2019.
Dallas firm buys Tulsa Hills shopping center
Dallas-based R/D Investors bought Tulsa Hills shopping center for $70 million. Tulsa Hills opened in 2008 with 700,000 square feet of retail space in southwest Tulsa. The purchase does not include separately owned properties in the center including Lowe’s, Target and Sam’s Club. In all, Tulsa Hills has 65 stores with a 98 percent occupancy rate.
St. John Health System rebrands to become Ascension St. John
St. John Health System changed its name as part of a national rebranding effort. The hospital system is now known as Ascension St. John. Ascension hospitals in Oklahoma, Maryland, Indiana and Tennessee are part of the rebranding. St. John has six hospitals in the region with facilities in Tulsa, Owasso, Broken Arrow, Sapulpa, Bartlesville and Nowata. The Tulsa-area system collectively employs about 6,000 people.
Gulfstream buys NORDAM’s nacelle manufacturing line
Gulfstream Aerospace acquired The NORDAM Group Inc. manufacturing line that produces nacelles for the Gulfstream G500 and Gulfstream G600. NORDAM had been producing the nacelles for Gulfstream's G500 and G600 engine supplier, Pratt & Whitney Canada.
Tulsa International Airport to offer daily nonstop service to LAX
American Airlines announced daily nonstop service between Tulsa International Airport (TUL) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) will begin on April 2, 2019. The announcement follows a lengthy, strategic effort by airport, Tulsa Regional Chamber and City of Tulsa officials to secure daily nonstop service to Tulsa’s second most popular destination – the Los Angeles Basin.
BOK Center earns top honors
Tulsa’s BOK Center BOK Center was named the Arena of the Year by the International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA) during the annual Honors and Awards Ceremony in Nashville. The Tulsa venue was selected over an elite group of nominees. BOK Center previously won this award in 2016 and this was the venue’s fourth nomination.
State Treasurer reports 10 months of growth
Oklahoma’s total revenue collections increased by more than 10 percent for 10 months in a row. The treasury collected $1.2 billion in September, the more ever collected for that month. Total collections over the past 12 months topped $12.5 billion – another record amount.
Cox Business Center renovation progressing
The ongoing renovation of Cox Business Center is progressing with cranes chipping away at concrete seating in the former arena. The outside walls are being carefully preserved to become a new, 40,000-square-foot ballroom. The renovation includes construction of a three-story lobby as part of a two-year, $55 million upgrade to the convention center.
New development planned for entertainment district
Developers announced a $9 million project called 1515 Cherry Street and The Lofts, a 28,000-square-foot development that includes retail, restaurants and apartments. Oak Properties announced the project as the group’s fourth along Cherry Street, bringing its total investment in the area to $35 million.
Tulsa International Airport has busiest September in a decade
A total of 120,448 passengers, the busiest September since 2008, boarded planes last month at Tulsa International Airport. It was the most since 115,400 passengers boarded flights in September 2008. At Tulsa International Airport, seven air carriers provide nonstop service to 22 airports. A total of 2.8 million passengers traveled through the airport in 2017, and year-to-date activity for 2018 is up 6.8 percent.
