August 30, 2017
By Paragon News Director Paul Joseph –
Beckham County Rural Water District #1 received unanimous support from the Beckham County Commissioners this week as it prepares a $75-thousand dollar grant application.
Office Manager Elaine Street says they’re going to ask South Western Oklahoma Development Authority, SWODA, for a USDA REAP grant to make improvements on their district’s telemetry.
The USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides financial assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to complete a variety of clean energy projects.
Over time, REAP investments are designed to help lower energy costs for small businesses and agricultural producers.
Street says the telemetry project will actually cost more than the $75-thousand dollars that the REAP grant would provide, if they’re fortunate enough to receive one.
The district – with it’s office in Carter – is considered one of the larger ones in the state covers parts of Beckham, Kiowa and Washita counties.
Street says this is at least the third grant the water district has applied for and she knows the ropes – and knows that time is of the essence because the deadline for submitting her application to SWODA is coming up in four weeks and there’s still quite a bit to do.
Before submitting the grant, Street will be back with her application all filled out so county commissioners can sign off on it prior to submitting it to SWODA.
– 30 –