Press Release

OKLAHOMA CITY –The City of Tulsa (City) received approval for $50,000,000 in funding Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the City’s water and sewer infrastructure.  Construction of upgrades and improvements to the water and sewer system will be financed by the Oklahoma American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant program along with $10,300,000 in local funds.

The City will utilize the proceeds in a partnership with the Fair Oaks Ranch (a/k/a Robson Ranch) for the development of thousands of acres for industrial, commercial, retail, and residential development in east Tulsa. To assist in the ongoing construction of the project, these ARPA funds will construct the Catoosa interceptor relief line, install a new peak flow storage facility with a 16-million-gallon flow equalization basin at Lower Bird Creek, expand the Lower Bird Creek wastewater treatment plant and the Spunky Creek lift station, and add a fourth pump at the main stem north lift station.

Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the City’s customers will save an estimated $69,339,300 compared to traditional financing. Representing the City was Senior Vice President of Tulsa Partners, Michelle Barnett, and Senior Special Projects Engineer for Tulsa, Tom Prag. Michelle Barnett stated, “OWRB is appreciated for its help with this Port of Catoosa project.” Tom Prag, shared, “This funding has accelerated the Capital Improvement Plan by twenty years. It’s phenomenal that these efforts have come together.”