Immediate Release:
OKLAHOMA CITY –The Guthrie 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 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 $1,007,408.96 in local funds.
The Authority maintains and operates a public water supply system for the residents of Guthrie. These proceeds will be used to replace several of the existing water mains with new PVC C900 water mains.
Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the Authority’s customers will save an estimated $1,588,000 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 Oklahoma Legislature. 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 $6.8 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout Oklahoma.
“We are grateful to State Senator Chuck Hall and State Representative Collin Duel for their continued support of our financial assistance programs,” said Julie Cunningham, Executive Director of the OWRB.