The McAlester Public Works Authority receives $2 million grant for system upgrades

The McAlester Public Works Authority (MPWA) received approval Jan. 16 from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) for $2,000,000 in funding toward a waterline improvement project in a vital area. 

Construction improvements to the water system will be financed by the Oklahoma American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant program along with $2,000,000 from an active Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loan. The project includes upgrades on waterlines of 14 inches and 16 inches along Main Street from Monroe Avenue to Comanche Avenue — roughly 8,500 linear feet of water main lines and gate valves.

“This is great for the city as we continue working to upgrade our water system and improve our water services,” City Manager Dave Andren said. 

The project is part of the $32.5 million DWSRF waterline improvements city voters approved in 2019.

McAlester PWA qualified for the ARPA funding in February of 2023 before going through the approval process.

Joe Freeman, chief of the OWRB’s Financial Assistance Division, calculated that the McAlester PWA’s customers will save an estimated $3,097,400.  

The OWRB administers the ARPA grant with funding from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and appropriated through the Water and Wastewater American Rescue Plan Act grants program. The OWRB has approved more than $7.1 billion in loans and grants for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements throughout the state since 1983.  

“We are grateful to State Senator Warren Hamilton, State Representative Jim Grego, and State Representative David Smith for their continued support of our financial assistance programs,” said OWRB Executive Director Julie Cunningham.