Tulsa officials briefed on Financial Empowerment Center outcomes as staff seek $150,000 in city gap funding

Tulsa City officials on May 14 told the Urban & Economic Development Committee that the city-run Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) has produced measurable debt-reduction and savings outcomes and asked the committee for a $150,000 city contribution to bridge funding through a grant cycle.

City staff said the FEC — launched in 2020 and operated through two contracted providers, Goodwill and Tulsa Response — has helped clients reduce more than $2.06 million in nonmortgage debt over roughly four years and record more than $664,000 in savings. "The biggest one being that we've been able to help all of our clients reduce their non mortgage debt by $2,060,000," a program presenter said during the committee meeting.

The request to the council is $150,000 for the coming fiscal year (and the same amount in the next fiscal year in the current plan) to keep both contracted providers operating while the city and providers pursue grant matches and private funding. City staff described the ask as a partial share of…