Dec. 1, 2022 – The Town of Luther will benefit from three grant awards announced by the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG). Each award will address vital infrastructure needs.
The funding comes from the Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) which serves communities with populations under 7,000 with opportunities to improve infrastructure and quality of life. ACOG is the state-appointed agency that distributes the REAP funds in Oklahoma, Logan, Canadian, and Cleveland counties. The ACOG board selected all three projects submitted to benefit Luther for a total reward of $399,549.
The Luther projects include:
- New Public Works Facility. The new shop will house all public works equipment in a secure facility and includes a new animal shelter. COST: $208,550.00
- Valve enhancement and replacement for the Town’s water system. This project will alleviate system-wide outages during repairs by allowing sections of the system to be turned off. COST: $99,999.00
- New sidewalk installation near Luther Public Schools. This grant application was submitted by Oklahoma County District 3 on behalf of the Town of Luther and also will be installed by the county. COST: $91,000.00
During the 2022 Legislative Session, Oklahoma lawmakers allocated $30 million to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce for the REAP program. As the central Oklahoma distributor, ACOG distributed an unprecedented $2.7 million to member communities, including nearly $400,000 to Luther.
“We are grateful for this grant funding to address vital needs in our town,” said Luther Mayor W. Terry Arps who represents Luther on the ACOG Board. “Each project will benefit residents and businesses and put the town in a better position to address future needs.”
The grants for the new shop and water valves were written by Town Manager Scherrie Pidcock, and Oklahoma County District Planning Director Erik Brandt wrote the sidewalk grant on behalf of the Town of Luther.
Currently, the town utilizes the “old Town Hall” on Main Street and the back alley for public works equipment with little space for repairs and maintenance. The new facility, planned to be constructed on town-owned land near the water tower, will also feature an animal shelter. While the town does not have an animal control department, occasionally animals must be housed and can be available for adoption. The facility will include an indoor shelter and an outdoor run.
The relocation of equipment will make a building on Main Street available for lease or purchase, said Pidcock. The building was originally a movie theater.
The water valve project will address a particular need, enabling water to be shut off in sections, instead of the whole system, during instances of breaks or repairs.
The next steps include receiving the grant awards, proceeding with bids, and constructing the projects.