Okemah Utilities Authority receives $1,000,000 grant for system improvements

OKLAHOMA CITY –The Okemah Utilities Authority (Authority) received approval for $1,000,000 in funding Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the Authority’s water infrastructure.  Construction of improvements to the water system will be financed by the Oklahoma American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant program along with $20,875,325 in funding from the OWRB Financial Assistance Loan Program.  

The Authority owns and operates an aged water treatment plant (WTP) that serves the city of Okemah. These proceeds will be used for the construction of a new WTP which will allow the system to continue meeting the needs of their customers.  

Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $1,553,200 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 the Water and Wastewater American Rescue Plan Act grants program. This OWRB program has been structured to provide communities and other eligible entities with the financial resources necessary to address water and wastewater infrastructure needs within their systems. Since 1983 the Water Resources Board has approved over $7.1 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.  

“We are grateful to State Senator Roger Thompson and State Representative David Smith 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