Avard Regional Rail Park Authority

PROJECT PURPOSE

Avard Regional Rail Park needs to become accessible to the rail line and road near the park to build a stronger, more innovative, and diverse economy in Northwest Oklahoma. The primary purpose of the project is to attract and retain the industries naturally suited to the region and to provide the infrastructure necessary to reverse the population decline. This project is located in the center of Woods County along the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway transcontinental line running from Los Angeles to Chicago and the Avard sub rail running to the Port of Catoosa. This project will create economic vitality by capturing the unparalleled opportunity to stimulate a combination of public and private investment activities to build the industrial park. The priority of the project will be to stimulate those investment activities by providing infrastructure improvements that make the area immediately accessible by rail and road. This project would greatly enhance the local capabilities of services and increase the well-being of all citizens, providing jobs and revenue to rural, Western Oklahoma.

EVIDENCE

None

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

The rural areas near the Avard Industrial Park were impacted significantly during the pandemic. They lost at least five small businesses and some oil and gas companies. Sandridge Energy cut its employees from approximately 2,500 to 25. This project will diversify the workforce by adding new industries. Two new companies are being added to the park currently. Adding these new jobs will allow workers who have lost jobs during the pandemic, get back to work. Rural towns near Avard are losing residents because there are no adequate opportunities to grow economically. Increasing job availability will draw residents to these towns and will allow for the retention of current populations.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

Project performance will be measured by increased jobs as predicted by a preliminary economic impact analysis prepared by the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, where they predicted this project to create new, annual payrolls ranging from $500,000 to $100,000,000. We are familiar with the Compliance and Reporting Guidance for State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds and understand our reporting responsibilities. All documents related to this project will be stored for reports. All documentation will be kept, organized, and updated by OEDA and the Woods County Clerk. Together, they will complete the reports, ensuring all required documentation is reported.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

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