Building on What Makes Bartlesville Home
Bartlesville has always been more than the businesses, buildings, streets and parks that make up our city. It is a community built by people who care about where they live and are willing to invest their time, talent and resources to make it better.
Over the last several years, we've invested in our parks and recreational facilities, strengthened our downtown, supported economic development and continued working to provide the essential services our residents depend on every day. There is still work to do. Bartlesville's future depends on remaining a community people choose to call home, build a business, raise a family and invest in. Jim Curd believes the best way forward is the same way Bartlesville has always accomplished great things: together.
[PHOTO: People enjoying Bartlesville, ideally Unity Square or another recognizable community setting.]
A Community Worth Choosing
Bartlesville competes every day for families, workers, businesses and investment. That's why quality of life and economic development aren't separate ideas.
A strong downtown matters. Good parks matter. Safe neighborhoods, streets and infrastructure matter. So do schools, healthcare, housing, restaurants, recreation and opportunities for employment.
Together, they tell the story of what it is like to live here.
The goal isn't simply to build things. The goal is to build a community people want to be part of.
[PHOTO: Bartlesville employer, small business or manufacturing operation.]
Growing Bartlesville's Economy
A healthy community needs a healthy economy. That means supporting the businesses and employers already invested here while pursuing new opportunities for jobs and growth. Sometimes that means helping an existing employer expand. Sometimes it means attracting a new company, encouraging an entrepreneur or creating the conditions for new housing and investment.
City government cannot create that growth by itself. Its role is to work with businesses and community partners to help create an environment where investment can succeed. Bartlesville itself is one of our greatest economic development assets. The stronger the community becomes, the easier it becomes for businesses, workers and families to choose us.
[PHOTO: City infrastructure or Bartlesville first responders.]
Taking Care of What We've Built
Progress isn't only about what we build next. It's also about taking care of what we already have.
Bartlesville residents have invested significantly in parks, streets, public spaces, recreation and infrastructure. We have a responsibility to maintain those investments while continuing to support the police officers, firefighters, emergency personnel and City employees our residents depend on. That requires priorities. There will always be more good ideas than available dollars.
Jim believes City government should understand the long-term costs, look for workable solutions and remember that the money being spent belongs to the citizens. Bartlesville should continue investing in itself. We should simply make sure we're investing wisely.
Downtown Belongs to All of Bartlesville
Our downtown is one of the community's most distinctive assets. Its architecture, businesses, history, cultural institutions and public spaces give Bartlesville an identity that can't simply be recreated somewhere else.
Investments in streets, landscaping and places like Tower Center at Unity Square have helped strengthen that foundation. A healthy downtown attracts visitors, supports businesses, creates opportunities for events and gives people another reason to choose Bartlesville.
Continuing to strengthen downtown isn't just an investment in a few blocks of the city. It's an investment in Bartlesville.