Local towns, entities among recipients of Rural Economic Action Plan funding

Local rural communities and entities were among 47 recipients of almost $2.57 million under 2024 Rural Economic Action Plan funding.

Awarded annually by the Association of South Central Oklahoma Governments (ASCOG) through the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, REAP grants are awarded in seven categories: water and sewer (the most popular categories, accounting for 21 of the 47 grants), building, safety, vehicles, equipment and streets. Priority is given to smaller entities that lack funding, or cities, towns and municipalities with less than 1,750 population, school districts with less than 525 students, and rural water and/or sewer districts with less than 525 non-pasture taps.

ASCOG will hold a signing ceremony for those who received the grants Jan. 11 at Canadian Valley Technical Center in Chickasha.

Grants range from community center upgrades at Apache to a generator at Waurika’s raw water station. Grant recipients include:

Apache: $136,363.63 for community center upgrades.

Cache: $45,000 for Phase 2 (of eight phases) of sewer line upgrades.

Caddo County: $150,000 in three grants for community center parking.

Carnegie: $45,000 for sewer lagoon aerators.

Cement: $45,000 for waterline repairs.

Central High: $45,000 for community center upgrades.

Chattanooga: $45,000 for a backhoe purchase.

Cotton County: $135,000 in three grants for courthouse sidewalks.

Cyril: $45,000 for waterline replacements.

Elgin: $45,000 for generator at police department, volunteer fire department and community center.

Fletcher: $45,000 for street repairs.

Fort Cobb: $45,000 for smart meters.

Frederick: $45,700 for sewer lagoon repairs.

Geronimo: $31,772 to replace sewer pumps.

Grandfield: $45,000 for lagoon repairs.

Manitou: $40,000 for lift station repairs.

Temple: $33,950 for storm sirens.

Tillman County: $109,500 in three grants for community center repairs at the fairgrounds.

Waurika: $45,000 for a generator for the raw water station.