Muskogee City-County Port Authority

PROJECT PURPOSE

The Muskogee City-County Port Authority is administering a Flood Protection Improvement Project (Levee) at the Port of Muskogee. The Project involves construction of a levee, approximately 6,700 feet in length to a height meeting minimum flood elevation at the Port of Muskogee. The Levee will protect as many as 14 local industries that depend on access to the Port and Waterway. These industries have invested more than $2 billion in their facilities and have created more than 2,500 jobs with a combined payroll in excess of $125 million. More importantly, the City of Muskogee?s Water Treatment Plant is located within the Port and was nearly breached during the 2019 flood event. A breach would have resulted in over 68,000 rural Oklahomans being without clean drinking water for an indefinite period. We have an opportunity to make a one-time infrastructure investment that will protect the rural areas primary water treatment plant and industry assets within the Port from threat of flood. Additionally, this would ensure the region remain a hub for new investments that create jobs and revenue for the City, County, and State. The Port Authority has been awarded an Economic Development Administration (EDA) Grant of $4.9M to assist in the construction of the levee project. The award amount was based upon an early cost assessment of $7.2M for the project. Since then, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) advised the minimum flood elevation is 3.5? higher than initially estimated, placing construction cost estimates over $10M for the Levee project. The EDA is unable to provide additional grant monies. We are proactively seeking local funding sources as well.

EVIDENCE

None

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Muskogee County is home to 68,362 residents, 24.8 percent of whom live in poverty. The County has experienced flat population and job growth and a persistent unemployment rate that exceeds the state and national average. Muskogee County's per capita income is $21,800. This Project will ensure the retention of quality jobs and protect significant public and private investments already made, stimulating economic growth by protecting shovel ready industrial sites, owned by the Port Authority, available for expansion of existing industry and recruitment of new industry. The Port is a fiscal engine in an economically distressed area, well positioned to transform the quality of life for its citizens. Turning to the City of Muskogee's Water Treatment Plant located within the Port of Muskogee, it is vital to ensure its uninterrupted operation as over 68,000 rural Oklahomans rely on it for clean drinking water every day.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

The Port Authority has extensive experience managing grants over the past 20 years, totaling more than $20 million. Funding sources for these grants include Oklahoma Department of Commerce (ODWC), Union Pacific Foundation, Oklahoma Secretary of Environment, Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department (OTRD), the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), United States Department of Transportation (USDOT), Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT), Oklahoma Historical Society (Oklahoma Centennial Farm & Ranch Program), and Oklahoma Department of Agriculture. The Port Authority is working with local stakeholders, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and qualified contractors to execute and measure project performance as well as collect the required programmatic data.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

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