Grants Management Newsletter –May 2026

Greetings,

I'm excited to share the May edition of the Grants Management Newsletter, and my first since becoming the new grants management director.

I have worked closely with the OMES Grants Management Office (GMO) and our subrecipient partners since 2024 in my role as deputy general counsel, which will foster continuity and a seamless transition as the program enters its final phase.

As I step into this role, my priorities are to continue strengthening our partnerships, supporting our agency collaborators and ensuring that our remaining ARPA-SLFRF responsibilities are completed with accuracy, transparency and care. I am grateful to the hardworking GMO team members, who are dedicated to ensuring these responsibilities are met, and to our subrecipients and their hardworking grant teams, who will be working right alongside GMO as we move into the final stretch of this historic effort.

With the final ARPA-SLRF appropriations bills passed before the closeout of the ARPA-SLFRF program, the GMO team would like to thank the Oklahoma Legislature and the Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding for their partnership and oversight in ensuring that ARPA-SLFRF funding was used to better the lives of Oklahomans.

My best,

Elizabeth Base
Director of OMES Grants Management Office

Note: These metrics reflect data as of April 30. Please visit the ARPA-SLFRF Program Tracker for the most up-to-date information.

• $1.42 billion, or 84.02%, of total funds disbursed.
• $38.4 million total funds disbursed in April 2026.
• 27 initiatives fully disbursed to date.
• $96.3 million disbursed in Q1 2026.

State agencies with the most funds disbursed in April 2026:

• Oklahoma Office of Emergency Management
  $4.6 million funds requested this month.
• Oklahoma CareerTech
  $4.4 million funds requested this month.
• Oklahoma Department of Commerce
  $4.1 million funds requested this month.
• Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
  $2.1 million funds requested this month.

On April 1, the U.S. Treasury published the Project and Expenditure Report User Guide as a supplement to the existing Compliance and Reporting Guidance. This new user guide provides detailed guidance and instructions for SLFRF recipients in using the Treasury's portal for submitting the quarterly Project and Expenditure Report. The 2026 Q1 reporting deadline was April 30.

Visit the Treasury's State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund webpage for the latest guidance and information about reporting requirements.

This month, we are highlighting our partners at the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (DPS) for enhancing the DPS Wellness Division's mobile intervention capabilities to support first responders in times of high need.

This program is designed to heal, restore and promote wellness among first responder personnel during times of crisis. The most significant anticipated outcomes include improved on‑the‑job strength and focus, more positive interactions with the public and fewer personal challenges – resulting in a more resilient and effective public safety workforce. The initiative is also expected to support stronger employment retention by providing physical and mental health resources and training, supported by the vehicles and equipment identified.

This project is backed by a $2.5 million investment from the Oklahoma Legislature through the ARPA-SLFRF.

When: Wednesday, May 20 | noon-1 p.m. CT

Description: Subawards expand research and program capacity but also create significant compliance risks for grant recipients. Federal rules make it clear: While work can be delegated, accountability cannot. This session will highlight real-world audit findings where weak oversight led to millions in questioned costs and missed goals. Participants will explore common pitfalls, why oversight often fails, and practical strategies to strengthen subrecipient oversight and protect grant funds.

Note: This webinar is available only to members of the National Grants Management Association (NGMA). For more information, please visit the NGMA website.

• From Compliance to Impact: Lessons From 2026 Annual Grants Training (AGT)
• Beyond the Draft: How Grant Professionals Can Use AI Ethically Without Losing Their Minds
• Outshine AI: How to Make Your Proposal Clear, Compelling, and Human

• State to receive millions of dollars for final phase of broadband expansion
• Work comes to close for state's pandemic-era relief aid committee
• Rural Water District No. 17 LeFlore County, Oklahoma Receives $1,150,000 Grant for Water System Improvements from the OWRB
• PRESS RELEASE: YMCA of Greater OKC breaks ground on Tom and Judy Love North Side YMCA
• Session Watch: Week 13 - Oklahoma Watch