Release
OKLAHOMA CITY –The Rural Water and Sewer District No. 5, Bryan County, Oklahoma (District) received approval for $300,000 in funding Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the District’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 and funds from the Choctaw Nation.
The District is enhancing its water distribution system to meet the growing demand in the area. The proposed project includes constructing a new well at the Smiser Road Tank site, optimizing the existing Cypress Well, and completing necessary appurtenances. With an estimated cost of $600,000, this expansion will be funded by a $300,000 OWRB ARPA grant and $300,000 from Choctaw Nation. This initiative is vital for ensuring a reliable water supply and supporting the District’s continued growth.
Lori Johnson, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the District’s customers will save an estimated $458,800.00 compared to traditional financing.
“We are grateful to State Senator David Bullard and State Representatives Cody Maynard and Justin Humphrey 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 $7.5 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.