Four Pillars

Founded in 2024 to help ensure Oklahoma’s micropolitan communities have the leaders, tools and connections needed to remain vibrant for generations to come, 1050 Forward accelerates impact through place-based programming, civic engagement and network building. 

Smaller cities with 10,000 to 50,000 permanent residents, defined as micropolitan cities by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, don’t necessarily have a smaller impact on a state’s wellbeing. In addition to the meaningful jobs and resources they provide to their own residents, these communities also serve as regional hubs for surrounding rural towns. Data shows that rural communities near a strong micropolitan area often fare better when it comes to poverty rates and economic opportunity than do their more isolated counterparts. These cities act as anchors for rural Oklahoma — they help drive the state’s economy, have served generations of families and offer a valuable way-of-life.

Micropolitans also have a role to play in modeling pragmatic problem-solving and healing our urban/rural divide

Ada, Muskogee and Stillwater – a diverse grouping of micropolitan communities in Oklahoma – were chosen for pilot programming in 1050 Forward’s inaugural year.