Critical Survey!
Wagoner County RWD #2 faces a significant challenge: their outdated water plant needs over $6 million in upgrades. Without the funds, they sought help from various sources. The Cherokee Nation funded a study conducted by ISG Consulting highlighting the needed upgrades, which allowed them to apply for USDA funding. However, securing this funding has been more complicated than expected.
Despite its location, the county’s median household income is too high for USDA grants, making it hard for the district to secure funds for water plant upgrades. To be eligible for a USDA grant, the county’s median household income must be below a certain level. Wagoner County’s income is too high, making them ineligible for the grant. They can still borrow the $6 million needed, but it won’t include grant money, which would be more affordable.
To overcome this, the district is conducting an income survey of its customers. By focusing on their customers’ income, rather than the whole county’s, they hope to meet USDA grant eligibility. The Environmental Services Team at Communities Unlimited (CU) is helping Wagoner RWD #2 with the income survey. Julie Hudgins, CU’s Senior Community Environmental Management Specialist, is leading this effort.
The process is labor-intensive and slow. The district needs responses from over 400 customers but has only gathered 35 as of early July 2024. The survey also asks about Native American heritage since many customers are Native American. This data will be shared with the Cherokee Nation to seek more funding.
“I can’t stress enough how important it is for customers to fill out the survey,” Hudgins said. “Right now, Wagoner RWD #2 isn’t eligible for any grant money. Filling out the survey could be the difference between getting no grant at all and securing up to 20% of the six million dollars they need. That’s potentially $1.2 million in funding. This survey is crucial for the community. Without it, they can’t get the grants they need to fund the upgrades. If they are successful, they could receive up to $1.2 million, easing the financial burden on the district and the customers.”
Despite the hurdles, the application to the USDA has been submitted. Next, the district needs customer approval and must meet the USDA’s conditions within a year. If successful, loan closing and construction could begin in about two years, though this timeline depends on bureaucratic processes. This income survey might seem like a small task, but it’s crucial for the future of Wagoner RWD #2’s water plant.
“RWD #2 is in desperate need of a plant upgrade,” Chairwoman Janet Wright said. “The cost of the upgrade is just under $7 million to complete. The district does not have the funds to meet this cost, and the board is applying for as many grants and funding opportunities as are available. Most grants and other sources of funding are based on necessity and given to applicants in the order of the most disadvantaged. Unfortunately, our district is lumped in with all of Wagoner County, which includes parts of Broken Arrow, Coweta, and Bixby, to name a few, and does not represent the true median income of our district.
“An income survey is an invaluable tool when applying for grants as it provides concrete data and evidence to support the need for financial assistance. By conducting an income survey, we can effectively demonstrate our current financial situation and justify why funding is necessary. We are working with Communities Unlimited to arrange for a third party to conduct the income survey and only the overall average income will be shared with the board. Please help our district and participate in the survey.”
