Tax Increment Financing

Tax increment finance (TIF) districts are economic tools used by cities around the world to promote development. TIFs allow cities to use a portion of property taxes generated within the district to invest in the district's infrastructure, providing an incentive for private investment.

When private investments within a TIF district lead to higher property values, the resulting increase in property tax revenue is reinvested within the district. That funds improvements promoting the success of the private investments, benefiting the district and the City through job creation and economic prosperity. It can also help retain businesses and their employees, along with attracting new ones.

The state constitution and Local Development Act authorize Oklahoma cities to use TIFs. The Oklahoma City Council approves TIFs by creating a new ordinance to define the district and the management of the funds.

Oklahoma City has 15 TIF districts(PDF, 3MB). For more information, contact Joanna McSpadden, the City’s Economic Development Program Manager, at joanna.mcspadden@okc.gov or (405) 297-3879.

Classen Corridor Revitalization

Contact
Joanna McSpadden
Economic Development Program Manager
(405) 297-3879
joanna.mcspadden@okc.gov

  • Increment Districts(PDF, 262KB)
    • The Classen Corridor Revitalization Project Plan(PDF, 2MB) was initiated in June 2024. The primary purposes of the Project Plan are to reduce and eliminate blight conditions, reverse economic stagnation, create new employment opportunities and growth, and to stimulate rehabilitation and preservation of historically or architecturally significant structures with an established historic value in the Project Area.

Core to Shore Reinvestment Area

Contact
Joanna McSpadden
Economic Development Program Manager
(405) 297-3879
joanna.mcspadden@okc.gov

  • Increment District #13: Core to Shore(PDF, 162KB)
    • District No. 13 was initiated effective July 1, 2018, for the Core to Shore Reinvestment Area labeled as A in the Project Plan.
    • The Core to Shore Reinvestment Area Project Plan(PDF, 825KB) was adopted on Feb. 23, 2016, with the goal of revitalizing vacant, abandoned, dilapidated, underused, blighted and/or historic commercial properties in Oklahoma City south of downtown. This area has six increment districts that may be started at any time within 10 years from the Project Plan adoption date.

Downtown Districts

Contact
Joanna McSpadden
Economic Development Program Manager
(405) 297-3879
joanna.mcspadden@okc.gov

Innovation District

Contact
Kenton Tsoodle
Oklahoma City Redevelopment Authority
(405) 604-6780

Northeast District

Contact
Joanna McSpadden
Economic Development Program Manager
(405) 297-3879
joanna.mcspadden@okc.gov

River Districts

Contact
Joanna McSpadden
Economic Development Program Manager
(405) 297-3879
joanna.mcspadden@okc.gov

Western Gateway

Contact
Joanna McSpadden
Economic Development Program Manager
(405) 297-3879
joanna.mcspadden@okc.gov

  • Increment District #12: Western Gateway(JPG, 288KB)
    • District No. 12 was created Sept. 12, 2017, for the Western Gateway Project Plan Increment District labeled as A in the project plan.
    • The Western Gateway Project Plan(PDF, 706KB) was adopted Jan. 31, 2017, to transform a 150-acre inner-city area that used to house the downtown airpark into a mixed-use, urban neighborhood. Development plans call for 2,000 new housing units and offices, retail and other commercial spaces into a Main Street-style urban mixed use environment.