Keys to rural economic recovery
Small counties and towns across the High Plains region have been losing population, businesses and jobs for several decades. This downturn has led to deteriorating infrastructure, school consolidations, and a myriad of other problems that accompany the loss of people.
Real solutions to turn this around have been hard to find. Woodward County, in northwest Oklahoma, is no different, except officials have an aggressive plan for recovery.
The Woodward County Commission reached out to the people to help find solutions. The commissioners asked the citizens to approve repurposing an existing sales tax for economic development. The voters overwhelmingly approved and the County Area Projects program has become a reality.
Clint White, chairman of the commissioners, leads an aggressive and innovative team of three commissioners, and he said that “CAPS is about investing responsibly in our present and future. It repurposes the revenue we already have to create opportunities for today, and for generations to come.”
White added, “CAPS does not raise taxes. It simply directs a portion of existing sales tax revenue toward community-approved projects, ensuring that local improvements are funded without creating any new tax burden.”
Commissioners have established a local Citizens Advisory Board, including two representatives from each district and one commissioner. The board has been put in place to review proposed projects, evaluate their economic impact and community benefits, and make informed recommendations. Commissioner Troy White said, the process is fair and it ensures transparency and accountability.
“The income for this program comes from repurposing only 40 cents for every $100 spent in Woodward County,” Troy White said. “Proposals can be submitted by county departments, rural water districts, county emergency medical services, fire departments, incorporated towns, community groups, and individual citizens.“
Donny Thorn, the third member of the board, said, “Farmers, ranchers and rural homeowners have expressed strong support for this program. Part of the revenue will be used to provide matching funds to rural water districts, fire departments, and emergency management services so they can successfully apply for grants.”
The revenue will be divided into three pools, referred to as “funding buckets.” These are the Economic Development Project Pool, the Transportation and Infrastructure Projects Pool, and the Public Safety and Emergency Management Services Projects Pool. The Economic Development Projects Pool will receive 50% of the revenue and the other two pools will receive 25% each.
To mention a few, funds will be used for business recruitment, retention, expansion, site development, roads and bridges, water, sewer, firefighting equipment and facilities, emergency medical service vehicles, emergency communications, and disaster response infrastructure.
As an example, rural water districts were created 50 to 60 years ago. Today, their wells, equipment and lines are now old and require extensive maintenance. Because rural water districts attempt to provide water for residents, businesses and livestock at the lowest rates possible, it is difficult for them to obtain grants for updating wells and equipment because they do not have the cash needed for matching funds.
The CAPS program will provide matching funds for these programs so that they can obtain grants to update their equipment and improve services.
Rural fire departments and emergency medical services, including ambulances, are in the same situation. Equipment is old or inadequate. Ambulances and fire trucks are expensive and without the CAPS program providing matching funds, their chances of upgrading their equipment are slim.
Woodward County has added an additional dimension that will help the success of the program. Officials have retained a professional grant writer and his staff who can identify grant programs and write applications. Rural fire departments and ambulances services are staffed by volunteers, who have full-time jobs, and they don’t have the time needed to learn how to write grants.
Chairman White said, “We expect that by providing matching funds to county entities for grants, we will multiply the tax revenue 10 times. By investing $100,000 in CAPS revenue, we expect to receive $1 million in grant funds back to carry out projects. This is a huge benefit to county residents, and it will save the taxpayers millions of dollars. Woodward County is on its way to becoming a greater place to live, work, and raise a family!”
Tom Lucas can be reached at (580) 727-4397 or by e-mail at: [email protected].
