State, Tulsa Metro Chamber have similar goals

TULSA - The State Chamber of Oklahoma now has an office in Tulsa. It's located at 511 S. Boston, in the Philcade Building. CEO Fred Morgan says the State Chamber needed a presence here.

"We have many members in Tulsa. We want to have an office where they can come and communicate with us," said Morgan.

The organization's objectives are different from local chambers of commerce, in that it doesn't recruit new businesses. Its sole mission is to make sure business-friendly laws are passed; and block other proposals the Chamber believes would be bad for business, like State Question 744.

Supporters say it will give schools more money. But critics say the initiative will lead to tax hikes and cuts in other state-funded services.

The Tulsa Metro Chamber of Commerce agrees, and looks forward to having the State Chamber in town.

"That means we can all join together...and work hand in hand for the things that we need," said Sheila Curley, Vice President of Communications for the Tulsa Metro Chamber.

The State Chamber will have one employee in the downtown office. Mark Rathe, Northeastern Area Manager, had been working out of his house in Tulsa for the last seven years.