Water Advisory Committees: One Group, Multiple Funding Agencies – Oklahoma

Funding for water and wastewater projects can be confusing to navigate, and it is generally provided by a variety of agencies in a state. Some states have made an effort to consolidate funding entities and partner agencies to provide a singular point of contact for assistance to communities in their region. In this blog series, you will learn about some of the existing Water Advisory Committees in the country, what they are, who they bring together, how they operate, and what assistance they provide to their state. In this blog, we will give an overview of the Oklahoma Funding Agency Coordinating Team (FACT).

What is FACT?

The Funding Agency Coordinating Team (FACT) is a coalition of federal and state agencies that provide financial assistance to qualifying public entities in Oklahoma for water and wastewater projects. The team aims to simplify and improve the funding process by promoting coordination and streamlining application procedures.

FACT’s Purpose

FACT has two purposes.  First the meetings allow all the funders and technical assistance providers the opportunity to coordinate and discuss what infrastructure projects and needs exist in the state.  Second, bringing the group together provides the opportunity to look for areas the agencies can work together and avoid duplicating effort.  FACT aims to coordinate among infrastructure funding providers and facilitate connections with systems seeking funding for projects.

Members

Oklahoma’s FACT members include:

• Communities Unlimited
• Indian Health Service
• Oklahoma Council of Governments
• Oklahoma Department of Commerce
• Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
• Oklahoma Rural Water Association
• Oklahoma Water Resources Board
• USDA Rural Development
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Cherokee Nation

Meetings

FACT is hosted by the Oklahoma Rural Water Association (ORWA) and meets quarterly to review the status of community water supplies in Oklahoma that appear on the FACT members’ project and enforcement lists. The first portion of the meeting is closed to the public due to the sensitive nature of the information being discussed. However, the second portion is open to the public by invitation, with attendance limited based on room capacity. FACT invites three to four water systems to each meeting, giving them the opportunity to connect directly with all state funding agencies and gain a clearer understanding of available funding options and their associated requirements. Any FACT member may nominate a community to be invited to a meeting. Additionally, communities themselves can contact any FACT member to request an invitation to participate. Ideal candidates have projects that are near shovel ready. However, the team is committed to assisting any system with a demonstrated need, regardless of project stage.

FACT Road Show

From time to time, FACT members travel around the state hosting the FACT Road Show.  The Road Show is a training event that provides the opportunity for rural Oklahoma communities to better understand the funding options available within Oklahoma and Federally. 

How to receive assistance

With all public financing agencies represented at FACT, communication barriers are minimized and application processes are simplified, enabling faster assistance. FACT offers a unified approach for requesting funding and regulatory approvals, along with standardized guides, checklists, and forms recognized by all participating agencies.

Point of Contact