Francis Tuttle Technology Center

PROJECT PURPOSE

The purpose of Francis Tuttle?s project is to build a 200,000 square foot world-class training facility to boost the workforce talent pipeline for Oklahoma employers in critical industry sectors. The facility will include full-time and flexible short-term training programs in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, healthcare. These highly-technical programs will include training in mechatronics, robotics, advanced manufacturing, automation, industrial maintenance, instrumentation and process control, CNC, CAD/CAM, welding, avionics, aerospace technician, aerospace composites, software development, cyber security, network technology, nursing, radiation technician, physical therapy, surgical technician and respiratory care. The college preparatory STEM academies offered will be computer science, engineering, and biomedical sciences, which will offer high school students, advanced math and science coursework paired with rigorous, applied instruction in the technical discipline of their choice. Each program will include licensure or industry-recognized credentials, or college credit for postsecondary transition with a total capacity for all programs equaling 1,904 enrollments each year. This project will include a stakeholder advisory group consisting of local employers, chambers, elected officials, community members, universities, and other corporate thought leaders from across the nation.

EVIDENCE

Oklahoma governmental entities and private sector economists recognize that workforce capabilities are the critical factor for success for business retention and growth, boosting per capita personal income, and attracting new employers to our state. Countless economic development studies from the Oklahoma City Chamber, State Chamber, US Department of Labor, and economists suggest a highly-skilled workforce in targeted industries and occupations to be the determining element of prosperity for our citizens and state. Economic development software such as O*NET and EMSI offers the analytical evidence to justify the need for a prominent focus on producing and maintaining a highly-skilled workforce.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

The coronavirus pandemic has negatively affected Oklahoma households, small businesses, schools, and governments. Francis Tuttle Technology Center has witnessed these impacts firsthand as we provide programs and services to each of these important groups. Members of the households we serve in Oklahoma, Logan, and Kingfisher counties have lost jobs, small businesses in the greater Oklahoma City Metropolitan Statistical Area have seen dramatic reductions in revenues or have closed, and those businesses who have endured are struggling to find highly skilled workers. Additionally, schools are struggling to deliver flexible curriculum to equip students to thrive in a changing economy, and Oklahoma?s government entities recognize that our workforce capabilities are the critical factor for success for business retention, growth, and attracting new employers to our state. This project will provide direct services and equitable training for low-income, racial, and ethnic minority groups, veterans, economically disadvantaged peoples, and provide rapid economic stabilization for households and businesses.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

Project performance will be measured and reported publicly on an annual basis. Performance measures and ROI will be calculated using the following measures: Total number of enrollments, Percentage of enrollment capacity utilization, Total number of program completions, Participation rates of low-income and racial and ethnic minority groups, veterans, economically disadvantaged peoples, Per Capita Personal Income, Business Retention, and Expansion, Occupational licensures earned, Industry-recognized credentials earned, postsecondary student transitions, Program Completers - Related job placement, Program Completers - wages earned, Employer satisfaction.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma