Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Opportunities in Oklahoma
The Water Finance Exchange (WFX) and Communities Unlimited (CU) are hosting an invitation-only workshop with public and private sector leaders, Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Opportunities in Oklahoma, to discuss the needs and opportunities to support communities in need of financial and technical assistance for water and wastewater infrastructure.
This one-day workshop will focus on the challenges of rural communities in Oklahoma. We would like to extend an invitation to attend this workshop, which will be held at the University of Oklahoma, Thurman J White Foreman Building in Norman, Oklahoma. The workshop will be on November 21st and begin at 9:00 am. A draft agenda for the workshop can be found below. Speakers and panelists will include state and federal agency
officials, community representatives, and other thought leaders in the water and wastewater sectors.
This workshop will be an intimate conversation of 60-80 water sector leaders, communities seeking to address sustainable water management needs, and public officials. The informational exchange will identify primary challenges facing smaller and underserved Oklahoma communities, outline financing opportunities, and generate ideas for collaboration going forward.
Certified Municipal Official Credit Hours
This workshop is approved by the Oklahoma Municipal League for 6 hours of training credit for Certified Municipal Officials.
Hourly Schedule
November 21, 2024
- 9:00 am - 9:15 am
- Welcome, Introductions, and Meeting Objectives
- • Brent Fewell, Co-Founder, Water Finance Exchange • Brad Jarrett, Environmental Services Area Director, Communities Unlimited
- 9:15 am - 9:30 am
- Keynote Remarks
- • Kenneth Corn, Oklahoma State Director, United States Department of Agriculture - Rural Development
- 9:30 am - 10:15 am,
- Breakout Session – Challenges and Solutions
- Solicit feedback from group on three key questions: • What are the biggest challenges confronting water infrastructure in Oklahoma? • What additional resources are needed to help rural communities in Oklahoma access safe, clean water and wastewater treatment infrastructure? • What are examples of successful water and wastewater projects in Oklahoma and what were the key elements for success?
- 10:15 am - 10:30 am
- Networking Break
- 10:30 am - 11:30 am
- Panel 1 - Local and Federal Resources Available to Communities
- • Pam Bensley, Community Programs Director, USDA-Rural Development • Ariel LaMontagne, Marketing Specialist, Oklahoma Water Resources Board • Johnny Taylor, Director, Office of Environmental Health and Engineering Division of Sanitation Facilities Construction, Indian Health Services • Shannon Yarbrough, CDBG-DR Programs Representative, Oklahoma Department of Commerce • Connie Guinn, Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
- 11:30 am - 12:15 pm
- Panel 2 - Needs and Opportunities in Tribal Communities
- • Billy Hix, Director, Cherokee Nation Office of Environmental Health and Engineering • Richard Fink, Assistant Director, Office of Environmental Health and Engineering, Division of Sanitation Facilities Construction, Indian Health Services • Brandon Orr, Community Environment Sustainability Manager, Chickasaw Nation • Danny Delay, City Manager, City of Atoka • Choctaw Nation Representative
- 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm
- Luncheon and Keynote Presentation
- • Keynote presentation on emerging water resources issues in Oklahoma
- 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
- Panel 3 - Community Challenges and Solutions
- • Brandon Bowman, State Programs Manager, Oklahoma Rural Water Association • Shellie Chard, Water Quality Division Director, Oklahoma State Drinking Water Association • joni palmer, Southwest Environmental Finance Center • Don Wilcoxen, System Manager, South Delaware County Regional Water Authority
- 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm
- Workshop Wrap-up
- • Brent Fewell, Co-Founder, Water Finance Exchange
