City Announces Expanded Efforts to Strengthen Tulsa Neighborhoods

City Announces Expanded Efforts to Strengthen Tulsa Neighborhoods

6/8/2026

NCI Collaborative, Updated Neighborhood Reports to Help Drive Resident-Led Improvements Across Tulsa

Mayor Monroe Nichols, District 3 Tulsa City Councilor Jackie Dutton, members from the City of Tulsa Planning Office, neighborhood leaders, and residents from the inaugural Neighborhood Conditions Index (NCI) Pilot Program gathered today to announce new efforts to strengthen Tulsa neighborhoods, including the launch of the permanent NCI Collaborative program and the release of updated NCI reports.

The announcements build on the success of the City's neighborhood-focused work over the past year and reflect a broader commitment to partnering with residents to improve quality of life, support neighborhood revitalization, and address challenges identified by the communities themselves.

"Strong neighborhoods are the foundation of everything we are trying to do here in Tulsa," Mayor Nichols said. "Making the NCI Collaborative a permanent program reflects our commitment to listening to residents, investing in neighborhood priorities, and giving communities the tools they need to create lasting change. Whether we're supporting neighborhood-led projects, expanding access to housing, or addressing long-standing vacant and abandoned properties, our goal is the same: helping every Tulsa neighborhood become a better place to live."

As part of the announcement, the NCI Pilot Program will transition to a permanent program called the NCI Collaborative following the pilot's successful launch in February 2025. In that pilot, three neighborhoods were selected from 22 applications and were able to see several successful completed projects over the past year that include new traffic signs and speed humps, neighborhood clean-up events, and cost-free spay/neuter clinics.

The NCI Collaborative will serve as a yearlong program that aligns City resources with neighborhood priorities by coordinating improvement projects identified and led by residents. Ultimately, the NCI Collaborative is fueled by neighborhood reports, or NCI reports, which provide data-driven insights into the unique strengths, challenges, and opportunities across 80 Tulsa neighborhoods.

Each NCI report evaluates neighborhoods across nine categories: land use; housing and neighborhoods; parks and recreation; transportation; communities and civic engagement; environment and natural resources; economic development; history, culture and creativity; and public services. The reports help residents and neighborhood leaders identify opportunities for improvement and inform future neighborhood-focused investments and initiatives.

"The success of the NCI Pilot Program showed what can happen when residents, neighborhood leaders, and the City work together toward a shared vision," District 3 City Councilor Jackie Dutton said. "The NCI Collaborative builds on that momentum by creating a long-term partnership that helps neighborhoods identify their priorities and connect them with the resources needed to make meaningful improvements. This is about empowering residents and ensuring every neighborhood has a voice in shaping its future."

Applications & More Information
Applications for NCI Collaborative are open through August 14, 2026, and can be found online at: www.tulsaplanning.org/ncicollaborative

An information session will be held at Martin Regional Library from 6 - 7:30 p.m. on June 18. Attendance is encouraged but not required to apply.

"The City hopes to work hand-in-hand with neighborhoods through the NCI Collaborative," said Neighborhood Programs Coordinator John Hetherington. "We aim to give neighborhood leaders the tools and resources needed to accomplish meaningful change within their neighborhoods and build their confidence for future projects."

Participating neighborhoods will be announced by mid-October, followed by onboarding activities through the remainder of 2026. Monthly community meetings will begin in early 2027 and continue for one year as neighborhoods implement initiatives in collaboration with the City of Tulsa.

For more information, call (918) 596-7663 or email [email protected].

Updated NCI reports can be found online at: www.TulsaPlanning.org/NCI

Other Neighborhood Programs
The City of Tulsa's Planning & Neighborhoods Department has several other programs for neighborhoods and neighborhood leaders, namely: Neighborhood Academy and Neighborhood Connect.

Neighborhood Academy is a free, interactive workshop series hosted by the City of Tulsa designed to empower residents to create positive changes in their communities. The program teaches Tulsa residents how to build leadership skills, navigate City government, and access community resources. Applications are open for the next cohort later this summer, with more information that can be found online at: www.cityoftulsa.org/neighborhoodacademy

Neighborhood Connect is another free resource spearheaded by the City's Planning & Neighborhoods Department that is designed to help neighborhood leaders, local organizations, and businesses collaborate and
build stronger communities. Facilitated by City planning staff, the initiative helps residents plan customized, one-time community gatherings in neutral spaces to share ideas, partner on initiatives, and solve local problems. For more information about Neighborhood Connect, visit:
www.cityoftulsa.org/neighborhoodconnect

Additional Tools to Strengthen Neighborhoods
The City's continued focus on neighborhood improvement also includes new tools being looked at by the City to address long-standing properties that negatively impact surrounding residents.

As background, Mayor Nichols set the goal for the City to see 6,000 housing units that are affordable to be built by 2028, and to achieve a 60% reduction in vacant, abandoned, and dilapidated properties by that same time. Over the last several years, Mayor Nichols worked with State lawmakers to advance legislation that provides cities with additional options for returning chronically neglected properties to productive use.

This work derived from efforts from Mobile, Alabama - a peer city that created a gold-standard approach to the issue. In 2025, Mayor Nichols requested legislation (HB 2147) that mirrored the Alabama legislation, which was carried by Representative Lay (R-Tulsa) and Senator Stanley (R-Midwest City). The measure was ultimately passed by veto override due to broad legislative support and a desire to see the vibrance of Oklahoma's neighborhoods maintained.

Tulsa's proposed Vacancy Improvement Program (VIP), which will be discussed by the City Council later this week, would establish a process to help move qualifying properties back into active ownership and support neighborhood revitalization and housing goals.

More information on the State bill can be found online at: https://www.okhouse.gov/posts/news-20250602-1