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OKLAHOMA CITY –The City of Tulsa (City) received approval for $50,000,000 in funding Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the City’s water and sewer infrastructure.  Construction of upgrades and improvements to the water and sewer system will be financed by the Oklahoma American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant program along with $10,300,000 in local funds.

The City will utilize the proceeds in a partnership with the Fair Oaks Ranch (a/k/a Robson Ranch) for the development of thousands of acres for industrial, commercial, retail, and residential development in east Tulsa. To assist in the ongoing construction of the project, these ARPA funds will construct the Catoosa interceptor relief line, install a new peak flow storage facility with a 16-million-gallon flow equalization basin at Lower Bird Creek, expand the Lower Bird Creek wastewater treatment plant and the Spunky Creek lift station, and add a fourth pump at the main stem north lift station.

Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the City’s customers will save an estimated $69,339,300 compared to traditional financing. Representing the City was Senior Vice President of Tulsa Partners, Michelle Barnett, and Senior Special Projects Engineer for Tulsa, Tom Prag. Michelle Barnett stated, “OWRB is appreciated for its help with this Port of Catoosa project.” Tom Prag, shared, “This funding has accelerated the Capital Improvement Plan by twenty years. It’s phenomenal that these efforts have come together.”

OKLAHOMA CITY –The City of Shawnee (City) received approval for $9,931,194 in funding Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the City’s water and sewer infrastructure.  Construction of upgrades and improvements to the water and sewer system will be financed by the Oklahoma American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant program.

The City will utilize the proceeds to replace over 25,000 linear feet of water lines and 7,500 linear feet of sewer lines to provide reliable water service and prevent future failures within the service area. Shawnee’s Director of Engineering, Seth Barkhimer, stated, “We appreciate the opportunity to be considered for this grant.”                         

Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the City’s customers will save an estimated $15,423,600 compared to traditional financing.

OKLAHOMA CITY –The City of Oklahoma City (City) received approval for $35,000,000 in funding Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve its water infrastructure.  Construction of upgrades and improvements to the water system will be financed by the Oklahoma American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant program along with $18,400,000 in local matching funds.

The City has designated this as the Tinker Air Force Base Project. A 60” water main which serves approximately 400,000 residents, currently runs parallel to Douglas Boulevard from Oklahoma City’s Lake Draper to north Oklahoma City. In 2022, The Oklahoma City Council agreed to the closure of two miles of the road for increased security for Tinker Air Force Base. Due to the road closure, two miles of the water main will be located inside of the air force base and in the event of a break, security levels at the base would delay emergency response time. Immediate response to a failure of the pipeline is essential as there is no back up water service or separate feed to provide water to an area which includes the Veteran’s Administration Hospital and the OU Medical Campus. The proceeds of this grant will be utilized to relocate four (4) miles of 60” water transmission main, valving, connecting to the existing line, testing, and disinfection outside of the Tinker Air Force Base secured area. 

Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the City’s customers will save an estimated $48,530,500 compared to traditional financing. Representing the City was Assistant Finance Director, Angela Pierce, who stated, “On behalf of leadership, Council, and the people of Oklahoma City, we appreciate this one-time opportunity. Oklahoma City is performing studies in efficiency to help surrounding neighborhoods through the use of these dollars.”