Modus Receives $40,000 TAUW Innovation Grant to Connect Tulsans with Careers at the Tulsa Port

Tulsa has always been a city that solves problems together. When our community sees a barrier, we look for a way to remove it. Today, we are proud to share work that does exactly that.

Modus has received a $40,000 Innovation Grant from Tulsa Area United Way to launch a new workforce transit partnership with the Tulsa Port. This project tackles a challenge local employers and youth-serving organizations have faced for years. Young adults are ready to work. The Tulsa Port has good jobs with room to grow. The only thing standing between them is reliable transportation.

There is no public transit route to the Port. Even the strongest training programs cannot overcome that distance. Transportation has been the barrier that decides who gets an opportunity and who gets left out. This grant helps change that.

A simple idea with big impact

With TAUW’s support, Modus will provide no cost, scheduled transportation to connect young adults to open positions at the Tulsa Port. In the first year, the project will support approximately 50 people as they step into stable, career-track jobs in manufacturing, logistics, and skilled trades.

People in Tulsa are motivated and capable, they want to work. The Tulsa Port has employers who want to hire them. Transportation is the missing link, and this partnership is the solution.

A Tulsa-grown model that strengthens programs across the region

Modus is the only nonprofit in the nation focused solely on providing no cost transportation arranged through partner agencies, schools, and employers. That means every ride supports a service already in motion. It strengthens job placement efforts, boosts job retention, increases on-time arrival, and ensures that opportunity is reachable for people who need it most.

The Tulsa Port sees the impact this can have on workforce growth for the region.

The Tulsa Port has companies ready to hire and build long-term careers with people in our community. This collaboration gives them a reliable way to get here and succeed.

Why this work matters for Tulsa

A single ride can change a career path. A consistent ride can change a life. When transportation is no longer a barrier, young adults gain stability and financial independence. Employers gain workers who show up ready to contribute. Families gain stronger footing. Tulsa gains a more reliable and more prepared workforce.

The Innovation Grant allows Modus to design a scalable model that can continue to grow alongside our region.

The road ahead

At Modus, our mission is simple. We remove barriers so people can reach the opportunities that help them move forward. This partnership with TAUW and the Tulsa Port is a major step toward that mission. It reflects what is possible when Tulsa collaborates with intention and believes in the potential of every young person.

If your organization supports youth, workforce development, or employer services and wants to explore collaboration, we would love to talk.

Together, we can keep Tulsa moving toward a future where opportunity is accessible for everyone.