A group of seven men and women wearing black, orange and tan attire scoop gold, black and white confetti out of metal tubs with small shovels. Tree branches and a tan and orange brick building are behind them. — Leaders from Oklahoma State University Extension, the Tulsa County Board of Commissioners and OSU-Tulsa mark the beginning of a new construction project for Tulsa County Extension. (Photo by Ryan Jensen, OSU-Tulsa)

OSU Extension breaks ground on new Tulsa County site

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Media Contact: Gail Ellis | Editorial Communications Coordinator | 405-744-9152 | gail.ellis@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University Extension in Tulsa County will enjoy a new downtown facility on the OSU-Tulsa campus thanks to funding from the Tulsa County Board of Commissioners.

Officials from OSU Extension, OSU-Tulsa and the Tulsa County Board of Commissioners attended a special groundbreaking ceremony on Oct. 29 where construction is expected to begin in early 2025. The Tulsa County Extension office is currently located at Expo Square in mid-town Tulsa.

OSU Extension provides local research-based programming as part of OSU’s land-grant mission to serve communities and improve the lives of Oklahomans. OSU Extension educators live and work in every county of Oklahoma, offering educational enrichment opportunities in family resilience, community health and development, 4-H youth development, and agriculture and natural resources.

Educational activities are developed and tailored to meet local needs within each county.

“This modern and collaborative hub will continue to serve youth and adults of all ages with educational programming that suits both rural and urban audiences in the county,” said Damona Doye, associate vice president of the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. “The county Extension office is the foundation of our statewide Extension system, and local feedback serves as the eyes and ears for our researchers on campus.”

Among the many programs offered through Tulsa County Extension, educators lead courses in co-parenting for resilience, nutrition and diabetes education, horticulture, and 4-H activities and competitions. Soil testing for urban gardens and agricultural operations is available at a minimum cost, and the Tulsa County Master Gardeners organization is one of the largest of its kind in the country.

Tulsa County Extension volunteers log thousands of hours each year participating in community programs that support youth development in addition to horticultural projects. Other Extension specialists advocate for food safety and security, self-care, sound financial management, mental health wellness and opioid addiction awareness.

Elevating the presence of OSU Extension programs and services in downtown Tulsa will help better connect Extension to university resources citywide.

“I am excited to see this long overdue project come to fruition. The Extension programs are growing exponentially, and the OSU-Tulsa campus is a perfect fit,” said Karen Keith, Tulsa County District 2 Commissioner. “We hope this project will enhance the work of the historic Mount Zion Baptist Church and be a great addition to the campus and existing programs.”

Johnny Stephens, interim president of OSU-Tulsa and president of OSU Center for Health Sciences, said the new OSU Extension facility will also support career preparation, health care, research and industry-driven technical education available through OSU Polytech while uniting OSU’s multiple campuses and Medical Academic District.

“This facility exemplifies our commitment to enriching communities across northeastern Oklahoma. This is what we mean when we say ‘Orange Country,’” he said.