American Recovery & Reinvestment
Act Funding for Rural Communities
David Shideler, Brian Whitacre
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
Overview
Energy Programs

State Energy Program


RFP deadline passed on April 27, 2009
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants


Program Priorities: Alternative fuel (compressed natural gas,
hybrids), Demand management, Carbon capture, Renewable
energy (ground source heat pumps), Energy efficiency (building
retrofits), Education
Deadlines:



Community Proposals for State Funding, May 19, 2009
Proposals for Federal Funding, June 25, 2009
Weatherization

Funds to be distributed to Community Action Agencies
Economic Development

Community Development Block Grants





Still awaiting final regulations
Entitlement communities not eligible
At least 51% of the jobs to be created will be held by or made
available to persons who qualify as Low to Moderate Income
(LMI) persons
At least one (1) permanent job will be created for every
$35,000 of CDBG funds requested. Lower costs per job ratios
are encouraged
Economic Development Infrastructure Financing Grants


Maximum of $1 million
Special set aside for Indian Tribes
Economic Development (cont’d.)

Workforce Investment Act programs



Funds will be distributed according to existing program formulas to
the 12 WIBs
State plan will be submitted to Federal agency by June 5, 2009
HHS Community Economic Development Projects



Funds are available to community development centers for wellplanned, financially viable, and innovative projects to enhance job
creation and business development in low-income communities.
The grants will be made as part of a broader strategy to address
objectives such as arresting tendencies toward financial dependency,
chronic unemployment, and community deterioration in urban and
rural areas.
Deadline: May 28, 2009
Economic Development (cont’d.)

Dept of Labor’s Recovery Act Competitive Grant
Opportunities


$500 million targeted for projects that prepare workers for
careers in energy efficiency and renewable energy
Solicitation will be issued no later than June 30, 2009
Transportation

Green Transit Investments (TIGGER)



For the purchase of capital investments that will lead to a
reduction in energy consumption or greenhouse gas emissions
of a public transit system
Deadline: May 22, 2009
Minimum grant: $2 million
Environment

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF)




Funding will go towards construction projects for drinking
water systems in the form of 30% grant, 70% loan packages
Deadline: June 16, 2009
Agency: OK Department of Environmental Quality
Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF)


Funding will go towards construction projects for new
wastewater facilities, or replacement / rehabilitation of existing
facilities
More info:
www.deq.state.ok.us/recovery/OK_StimulusFunding.pdf
Environment (cont’d.)

Water Marketing and Efficiency Grants



Agency: Bureau of Reclamation
Seeks to fund cost share projects that bank water, market
water, conserve water, or generally make more efficient use of
existing water supplies
www.usbr.gov
Broadband

Broadband Grants

$4.7B through NTIA


Some funds (~$200M) will be available for libraries / community
colleges
3 rounds of funding (split evenly)



April – June 2009
October – December 2009
April – June 2010
Additional Opportunities

Communities facing high unemployment:


Businesses looking for Stimulus funds:


http://www.okcommerce.gov/recovery/?page_id=20
http://www.okcommerce.gov/recovery/?page_id=89
Keep checking the web!!
Resources

“The Federal Stimulus Package: Funds Available to
Oklahoma State and Local Governments”



Available at:
http://www.oml.org/cnt/files/Economic_Recovery/OKPolStimul
usbrief[1].pdf
Recovery.ok.gov
www.okcommerce.gov/recovery/