Business incubator to aim at Tulsa immigrant startups

“It was super exciting” she said. “It’s always great news for the entire community when you have something like this coming in. It just gives a breath of fresh air for the community.”

Navarro and her family, originally from Mexico, have owned 2000 HNC (homeopathic natural center), a natural herbs and vitamins store, for 23 years at Plaza Santa Cecilia in the Tulsa Global District, near 21st Street and Garnett Road.

That is where the first small-business incubator aimed at immigrant communities in the state will be located.

A groundbreaking is set for this summer, with an opening planned for the end of the year.

Navarro said her family — with a long-established business at the site — would likely be helping other potential entrepreneurs rather than using the incubator’s opportunities directly.

However, she said, as her children get older, she will be encouraging them to look into it.

“I’ve already been talking with them about it. They are really excited about it, … and they are hopeful this is something they can use for their future,” she said.

The incubator is being launched by the city of Tulsa, Tulsa County and the George Kaiser Family Foundation.

The city invested $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding for the incubator, with Tulsa County contributing $120,000 in ARPA funds. GKFF contributed $1.4 million to the project through Elevate East, its new program that is funding an array of initiatives in east Tulsa to lift families and improve neighborhoods.

“Elevate East is working collaboratively with community members to create opportunities where families can thrive,” said Ken Levit, executive director of GKFF.

“This incubator not only cultivates thriving local businesses but also offers invaluable resources to immigrant entrepreneurs, enhancing economic opportunities for all. We are excited to see the renovation of Plaza Santa Cecilia, a culturally significant building for Tulsa’s Hispanic community, and grateful for the public-private partnership supporting this catalytic investment.”

The Tulsa Global District is the most culturally diverse community in the city, with over 80 languages spoken and 25 countries represented, including from Mexico and Central America, as well as Vietnamese and Hmong communities.

The incubator will have about 15,000 square feet and will act as a hub to include “robust” programmatic support to launch and scale immigrant businesses, a community space to host workshops and classes, and an international market-themed retail space for immigrant entrepreneurs to test and market their products, the city said in a news release.

Many immigrant entrepreneurs often need help navigating resources, such as how to form a limited liability corporation, get permits and acquire capital. 

A new community development corporation, the Immigrant Community Development Corp., will manage the incubator.

The development organization aims to acquire and manage properties in east Tulsa that support revitalization and create an environment that encourages new wealth-building opportunities for neighborhood residents.

GH2 is the architect for the project.