The City of Shawnee receives $1,692,418 grant for system improvements

OKLAHOMA CITY –The City of Shawnee (City) received approval for $1,692,418 in funding Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the City’s 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 $1,692,417.94 in local funds.  

The City owns and operates a water distribution system that has aging water lines. These proceeds will be used to replace approximately 6,400 linear feet of 8 and 12-inch waterline throughout the system.   

Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the City’s customers will save an estimated $2,620,900 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 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 Representative Dell Kerbs and Senator Shane Jett 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