Road repairs, maintenance of water lines, street signs, and emergency response equipment are some of the things that citizens expect of their communities. But some small towns in Central Oklahoma don’t have the resources to fully provide these basic services. The Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) helps these communities to secure funding for just such needs.
The Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) distributes REAP funds to communities in the Central Oklahoma region which includes Oklahoma, Logan, Canadian and Cleveland counties.
This year, nine communities have been awarded funds to complete community development or infrastructure projects through the REAP program. REAP is designed to assist communities with populations less than 7,000 in identifying and completing projects that enhance the quality of life, by improving living and working conditions and contributing to economic development.
The REAP process begins when applications are mailed to eligible entities. ACOG conducts workshops to assist the applicants in preparing their project submissions. The applications are scored and submitted to the ACOG Board of Directors for approval.
There were 43 eligible applications requesting almost $2.5 million for projects in 2013. ACOG was allocated $547,792 in grant funds and was able to fund nine projects, with three alternate projects identified should additional grant funds become available.
The projects receiving funding include the following:
• $67,465.25 for road repair in the Town of Orlando
• $100,000 for road repair and drainage infrastructure in Canadian County, District 2
• $47,999 for rehabilitation of a water tower in the Town of Mulhall
• $99,000 for new road construction in the Town of Calumet
• $45,000 for road repair in Logan County, District 1
• $11,058 for installation of telephone system and equipment at the Forest Park Municipal Complex
• $30,599.73 for emergency generator for senior center in the City of Harrah
• $50,000 for street repairs and new street signs for the Town of Union City
• $96,670.02 for new road construction in Canadian County, District 3
“Small communities rely on REAP funds to satisfy infrastructure needs essential to creating economic development, as well as enriching the lives of their citizens,” said John G. Johnson, Executive Director of ACOG. “We are very grateful that the Oklahoma Legislature continues to support and appropriate funds to the REAP program, allowing us to assist our member communities in their development.”
For more information, contact ACOG at (405) 234-2264.