A new 23-acre campus dedicated to blending Christianity and business could be coming to north Tulsa.
Plaza 210 is the brainchild of Tulsa venture capitalist Darrel Frater and his wife Roselly. Both are co-founders of The Center for Faith & Business, a midtown Tulsa-based nonprofit group that offers entrepreneurs training and business advice based on biblical practices.
The two held a banquet Monday evening inside the downtown Central Library to celebrate the center’s first anniversary and fundraise for Plaza 210, a development that Frater said would cost over $100 million.
“We believe that the Bible has the best book for instructions for business,” Frater told The Eagle. “When you build a strong business that is built on biblical principles, you’ll be able to allow that business to be a blessing to others. And we believe that that’s how business should be.”
The Fraters unveiled their vision for the campus to a crowd featuring several entrepreneurs, community members and faith leaders, including Mayor Monroe Nichols, Rev. Ray Owens of Metropolitan Baptist Church and Regent Bank CEO Sean Kouplen.
“I think about what Plaza 210 can do. I think that all those folks who have this faith, with a little bit of support and a little bit of work, will transform not only their lives but transform a part of our city,” Nichols said.
A rendering video of Plaza 210 features a town center, mixed-use retail corner, central plaza, ancillary school facility, community garden, detention pond, single-family detached residential area and a middle school.
Frater chose north Tulsa due to its “entrepreneurial spirit,” he said, and its connection to faith. The area is home to a number of historic churches like Vernon AME, Mount Zion Baptist and First Baptist Church North Tulsa.
“All types of entrepreneurs need help (and) support. Especially those that are of color, the resources that are available are often not as accessible,” he told The Eagle in May. “So we are here as a resource, so that anyone can get access to it.”
Prior to the banquet, the Fraters had raised $12,000. He told attendees he needs $35,750 to put down the initial deposit for the land, $100,000 for the first year of seller financing and $715,000 for a complete purchase of the 23 acres.
The Center for Faith & Business currently operates out of space at 3939 S. Harvard Ave. The nonprofit offers a six-week community builders accelerator program for 50 entrepreneurs both in and outside of Oklahoma.
During the banquet, they awarded $5,000 and $1,000 grants to two entrepreneurs who took part in the builders program. Kouplen matched the amounts.
The nonprofit also hosts Tulsa God Squad on the first Monday of every month, bringing together a group of men to participate in an activity and discuss business, faith and life. It offers free faith business office hours for entrepreneurs seeking feedback and support as they build and grow their businesses.
Though his organization is built on religious principles, Frater told The Eagle being Christian is not a requirement to take part in the vision.
“We don’t close the doors to anyone. All people are welcome, regardless of their faith or walk of life. Come as you are, we just want to serve all people,” he said earlier this year.
Frater did not disclose the exact location of where the Plaza 210 campus will be in north Tulsa. That will be announced once he reaches his first fundraising milestone, he said.
Ismael Lele is a Report for America corps member and writes about business in Tulsa for The Oklahoma Eagle. Your donation to match our Report for America grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting this link.
