Comanche Public Works Authority receives $1,000,000 grant for system improvements

OKLAHOMA CITY –The Comanche Public Works Authority (Authority) received approval for $1,000,000 in funding Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the  Authority’s infrastructure. Construction of upgrades and improvements to the water system will be financed by the Oklahoma American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant program.   

The Authority operates a water distribution system which includes two storage tanks in need of refurbishing, a primary lift station in need of upgrade, and a dam in need of repair. These proceeds will be used to recoat each water storage tank, remove trees, seal cracks, and reinforce the dam, and satisfy engineering costs to upgrade the lift station.   

Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $1,525,100 compared to traditional financing. 

The ARPA grant program is administered by the OWRB with funding from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and appropriated through Senate Bill 429 and Senate Bill 13 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 $6.5 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.   

“We are grateful to State Senator Chris Kidd and State Representative Marcus McEntire for their continued support of our financial assistance programs,” said Julie Cunningham, Executive Director of the OWRB. 

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