Oklahoma Ordnance Works Authority (dba MidAmerica Industrial Park)

PROJECT PURPOSE

The proposed MidAmerica project will bolster infrastructure at the Industrial Park, improving the wastewater treatment and collection system along with opening new areas for economic development and job creation. The wastewater projects include upgrades to six existing lift stations and several miles of new gravity lines as well as three new lift stations and the associated force mains. The projects will also address much needed upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant electrical systems. These projects will serve to open up considerable undeveloped area for planned growth within the park (including Project Ocean, Canoo and additional new areas) and add redundancy to the system. Increased redundancy and reliability prevents sanitary sewer overflows (SSO's) and ensures discharge permit limits are achieved following treatment at the WWTP.

EVIDENCE

A recent Capital Improvement Plan by engineering firm Holloway, Updike, and Bellen, indicated the need for the proposed projects in order to replace aging and inadequate lifts stations, undersized collection lines, and increase water treatment capacity to meet demands, improve system redundancy, and provide essential infrastructure for new development. The proposed interventions meet industry standards for best practices and have been assessed by professional engineers licensed by the State of Oklahoma. Estimated costs have been updated to reflect 2022 industry costs.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Disproportionately impacted individuals include those served by tribal governments; in the counties affected by the proposed MAIP project 96,889 residents were reported as American Indian or Alaska Native by the 2020 Census. The pandemic increased unemployment in the State of Oklahoma from 3.1% to 4.4% as reported by the Oklahoma Municipal League. An estimated 23% of renters statewide are not caught up on rent and 39% of households are having difficulty meeting monthly expenses. The proposed MidAmerica project will provide immediate jobs in construction, increase opportunities for economic development creating long-term jobs, private investment, and increasing the tax base. This results in lower unemployment, higher household incomes, and increased State and local revenue.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

Project performance for the MAIP Water Improvements will be measured in construction milestones as well as new private investment in the improved service areas during the period of performance. MAIP will work closely with engineers, consultants, and contractors to maintain the construction schedule and complete construction within 24 months of award. Through the remainder of the performance period, MAIP will track private investment, job creation, unemployment rates in the seven-county workforce area, and property valuation in the improved service areas and report data to the State of Oklahoma as required by award terms.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

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