The Miami Special Utility Authority Receives $3,400,000 Grant for System Improvements from the OWRB
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Miami Special Utility Authority (Authority) received approval for $3,400,000 in funding on Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the Authority’s water infrastructure. Construction of upgrades and improvements to the water system will be financed by the OWRB American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant program along with $1,700,000.00 from the MODOC Nation, $1,700,000.00 from the Ottawa Nation, and $3,058,235.00 from local funds.
The Authority operates a water system that is in need of modernization to improve water usage tracking. The proposed project will replace outdated water meters with automated meters, along with the necessary software and infrastructure to enhance efficiency and accuracy in measuring water consumption. These upgrades will provide more reliable data and improve service for the community. The estimated cost of the project is $9,858,235.00 which will be funded by the OWRB Tribal Matching Grant of $3,400,000.00, $1,700,000.00 from the MODOC Nation, $1,700,000.00 from the Ottawa Nation, and $3,058,235.00 from local funds.
Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $5,559,200.00 compared to traditional financing.
“Upgrading to automated water meters will significantly improve efficiency and accountability within Miami’s water system,” said Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair. “This collaboration between tribal partners, local leadership, and OWRB is a model of how strategic investment and partnership can support long-term infrastructure resilience and a better community for all.”
“We are grateful to State Senator Micheal Bergstrom and State Representative Steve Bashore for their continued support of our financial assistance programs,” said Julie Cunningham, Executive Director of the OWRB.
The ARPA grant program is administered by the OWRB with funding from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and appropriated through the 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 $8.2 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.
