Fern Mountain Trust Authority

PROJECT PURPOSE

Fern Mountain Trust Authority project is a public trust created by the Muskogee County commissioners, supported by vote of Muskogee and Fort Gibson city councils to rebuild a financially self-sustaining tourism economy devastated by the Corona pandemic. The grant will fund the following framework 1) Fern Mountain Adventure Park, a 300-acre park with free public trail system for hiking biking and horseback riding. 5 miles of walking trails and 5 miles of adventure trails. Three recreational lakes, six different zip lines, treetop adventure system, a cliff climbing adventure and via ferrata, gravity coaster, and a gondola to increase access to those of limited mobility and young families. 2) commercial water taxi system based at three rivers harbor bringing public access to local rivers and bayou systems 3) 50 miles of County trails will for adventure hiking, biking and equestrian access connecting with existing trail systems 4) creation of a bridge Park over the Arkansas River by reproducing existing bridges designated for demolition into public spaces ideal for innovative use 5) creation of a cultural site educating all of us in the post-Civil War to modern era black cultural experience in Eastern Oklahoma 6) creation of a GPS -based app connecting locations and exhibits in our region to the history and culture that occurred in that location.

EVIDENCE

These Multiple projects have been modeled using EMSI programs for impact scenarios and executive summary using total impact data source prepared by Muskogee business development. Ongoing modeling and evaluation continue, attempting to more accurately reflect the wider spectrum of local and regional impact in jobs taxes and earnings from this large scope project. The project has been vetted through Muskogee County commissions creating a public trust and by city councils (Muskogee and Fort Gibson) each unanimous vote of project concept support. Project scope reviewed with County Sheriff, EMS/911, and fire/rescue.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Muskogee and surrounding counties represent an environment rich in diverse ethnicity and culture and poverty. The county population is 44% non-white with a median income 20% below the state average. Our high comorbidity index was made even worse by the overwhelmed care system and therefore the inability to care for routine issues. A long-standing suspicion of government, in spite of vaccine availability and extensive overlap of available healthcare systems, made vaccine acceptance problematic. With pandemic driven school closings, job losses and transportation difficulties, subsets of our local demographics suffered significant morbidity. Food anxiety became critical as 80% of school children take food home daily. Even common medical problems became difficult to find room to treat in the overcrowded hospital and clinic settings. Those without previous healthcare relationships found healthcare availability difficult resulting in delays of treatment even in the common problems of our demographic. Transportation to the hospital or healthcare settings was difficult. The primary driver of our county economy is a shopping hub, and Center for regional tourism and resupply and for food services and healthcare services. In spite of increased wages, employment recovery has been slow. The immediate benefit of this program to our community will be the opportunity for construction labor and trade labor. ARPA funding will transition Muskogee and our region to a destination. Tourist increases of well over 100,000 visitors per year is expected, increases in over 300 jobs in the first two years translates into EMSI Modeled $15 million/yr . As economy grows, the ability to impact early healthcare issues will increase and the lifestyle options will improve quality. The entire approach to this project is a future looking, quality of life infrastructure, inherently creating healthy lifestyle culture and opportunities, reducing healthcare costs by enhancing our regional community. All by creating access to adventure in green country. We are addressing the negative economic impacts of the pandemic by creating employment in the short term and more importantly in the long term. We will believe this new trail system will supply a noncarbon based, safe access system for citizens to move around the city/county without a car. As a tourist destination this project will stimulate income zones for small businesses and therefore the public sector success and tax base. The entire system will help replace significant lost public sector revenues.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

treasury.gov/SLFRF described in detail the requirements of reporting. Program management planning will include four years of active management followed by two years of completion of payments following by five years of potential post-program audits. A local staff including site construction inspectors, in office accounting staff, Comptroller, Dir. of operations with Muskogee County oversight will acquire and maintain recipient and sub recipient accountability and oversight and maintain progress schedules. Professional accounting services with experience government reporting, auditing and financial transparency will be engaged. Funding for this requirement is included in the request

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma