Canoo and George Kaiser Family Foundation Announce Partnership to Bring Tech Jobs to Tulsa

• Collaboration Will Amplify Community Impact of Canoo Investments

The George Kaiser Family Foundation (GKFF) and Canoo, a manufacturer of breakthrough electric vehicles (EVs) that are reinventing mobility, announced a groundbreaking new partnership to attract, train and retain a dynamic and globally competitive Tulsa technology workforce.

Sparked by Canoo’s planned expansion in Oklahoma, including an R&D center and a software development center that will bring at least 375 high paying jobs to Tulsa with a focus on recruitment, training and expanding workforce diversity, the partnership will mobilize new resources and leverage existing programs to build local skills and draw diverse talent to northeastern Oklahoma.

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“I thank George Kaiser for his leadership in ensuring Tulsa is the land of opportunity, creating a path for families and workers to succeed. Working together, Canoo and the George Kaiser Family Foundation will amplify the impact of our individual investments in Tulsa and contribute to a more diverse, dynamic and competitive local economy,” said Tony Aquila, Investor, Chairman and CEO of Canoo, Inc. “Canoo’s American made electric vehicles will be a catalyst for talent, growth and innovation in Oklahoma.”

“We are excited to have the Canoo software engineering and tech hubs in Tulsa. The presence of these high quality jobs from Canoo can benefit from and complement the various public-private programs that are based in Tulsa, supported by GKFF and which specialize in critical areas such as automotive and software engineering, cyber security, advanced mobility, among various others,” said Ken Levit, Executive Director of GKFF. “I know Tulsa will welcome these new members of our community with open arms and support their success in every way.”

The greater Tulsa region is fast emerging as a center of electric vehicle research, development and manufacturing power. In June, 2021 Canoo selected Mid America Industrial Park in Pryor, Oklahoma as the site for its U.S. manufacturing facility.

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“Over the past year, we have made substantial investments in the City’s innovation infrastructure through partnerships like the 36 Degrees North Incubator at City Hall and the Greenwood Entrepreneurship Incubator at Morton – both of which have been executed with the goal of supporting the growth of the next generation of innovative companies,” said Tulsa Mayor GT Bynum. “Today’s announcement is yet another sign of the power of these investments, as well as the need to craft innovative workforce and training strategies to prepare more Tulsans for technology-based jobs.”

“Canoo has already made transformative investments in northeast Oklahoma, and we’re grateful the company is furthering its commitment to our region and our workforce,” said Arthur Jackson, senior vice president of economic development at the Tulsa Regional Chamber. “Canoo’s planned software development center and partnership with GKFF will spur the region’s growing technology ecosystem and strengthen our efforts to attract and develop a highly-skilled, diverse workforce. Investments like this wouldn’t be possible without the strong public-private partnerships and regional collaboration facilitated through Tulsa’s Future.”

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