TULSA, Okla. — Black entrepreneurs in Tulsa now have a new place to grow their network and grow their businesses. On Monday, officials cut the ribbon on the brand new Black Wall Street Business Center.
The business center comes complete with modern, open concept co-working spaces, offices, conference rooms, a break room and rest area with free coffee and food, and all the resources an entrepreneur might need to get their business going.
It’s located on the 8th floor of the Spirit Bank building at 1800 S Baltimore Ave., south of downtown Tulsa.
Its purpose is to give Black and Indigenous entrepreneurs a chance to have their own space tailored to their own specific needs as they get started.
It’s all made possible by the Black Wall Street Chamber of Commerce. The vision for the center came from the chamber’s former president, Sherry Gamble Smith, who was tragically killed earlier this year.
“Every aspect of this place is Sherry’s vision,” said Lindsey Corbitt, the center’s executive director. “Down to the floors, to the walls, the wall color, the specific shade of white that she needed, and just the actual, real plants to bring in that fresh oxygen. Her goal was to make sure that these Black-owned businesses, Indigenous businesses, people of color… that they have what they need to feel like people are focused on them and their development.”
Corbitt said they don’t want to stop here. The chamber plans to expand to more spaces on their floor in the Spirit Bank building, with a goal of eventually moving to its own dedicated building at some point in the future.
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