Chelsea Economic Development Authority receives $1,302,083 grant for system improvements

OKLAHOMA CITY –The Chelsea Economic Development Authority (Authority) received approval for $1,302,083 in funding Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the Authority’s wastewater infrastructure.  Construction of upgrades and improvements to the wastewater system will be financed by the Oklahoma American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant program along with $1,269,800 from Cherokee Tribal matching funds, and $655,000 from Indian Health Services (IHS).     

The Authority will utilize the proceeds to convert existing lagoons to a total retention lagoon system and for improvements to the headworks and pump stations for a land application system.   

Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $1,955,300 compared to traditional financing.

The Authority’s Wastewater Superintendent, Mike Wooten, stated, “We appreciate the efforts to help minimize debt service through ARPA dollars.”   

The ARPA grant program is administered by the OWRB with funding from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and appropriated through Senate Bill 4 for the Water and Wastewater American Rescue Plan Act grants program. This OWRB program has been structured to provide communities and other eligible entities financial resources necessary to address water and wastewater infrastructure needs within their systems. Since 1983 the Water Resources Board has approved over $6.2 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.     

“We are grateful to State Senator Ally Seifried, State Senator Julie Daniels, and State Representative Rusty Cornwell for their continued support of our financial assistance programs,” said Julie Cunningham, Executive Director of the OWRB.   

####   

Contact: 
Joe Freeman 
Oklahoma Water Resources Board 
(405) 530-8800
Joe.Freeman@owrb.ok.gov