Frequently Asked Questions
Oklahoma Funding
- What does the federal economic recovery funding mean for Oklahoma?
- What federal stimulus money will be allocated to Oklahoma?
- How can I see how much recovery money is coming to my community?
- How will we decide which projects and programs will receive economic recovery dollars?
- How will Oklahoma spend the federal economic recovery funds?
- What is a shovel-ready project?
- How can I find out what Oklahoma projects will receive federal economic recovery dollars?
Question: What does the federal economic recovery funding mean for Oklahoma?
Answer: Oklahoma will soon receive its share of the federal economic recovery package to help us weather the global economic downturn, create jobs and spur economic development. While we are working to identify the specific dollars that will come our way, we know that these funds will create thousands of new jobs for people all across Oklahoma.
This federal recovery plan will help us grow Oklahoma's economy, short-term and long-term:
- Recovery package tax cuts and infrastructure projects will kick start Oklahoma's economy now, putting people to work, putting money back in people's pockets and injecting dollars in to Oklahoma's economy almost immediately.
- Recovery package investments will help us create the economy of the future, investing in technologies and programs to stimulate emerging industries, such as renewable energy and energy efficiency systems and products, advanced battery manufacturing, health care technology and others.
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Question: What federal stimulus money will be allocated to Oklahoma?
Answer: Decisions by federal agencies have not yet been reached, and there are more than a hundred specific programs in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA.) In general there are five distinct methods federal agencies will use to distribute funds: one time disbursements, by formula, by competition, by demand, and by Federal agency plan.
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- By One-Time Automatic Disbursement. The Recovery Act includes some one-time benefits, such as payments of $250 to Social Security, Veterans and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries.
- By Formula. Certain funds in the Act are allocated by a formula – usually set in law – to states and localities. Examples include:
- Medicaid (Federal Medicaid Assistance percentage payments)
- State Fiscal Stabilization Fund
- Highway Infrastructure Investment
- By Competition. Other programs allocate funding through competitive solicitations. In the coming weeks, agencies will distribute requests for proposals and convene panels to evaluate applications. Examples of agencies and programs that have or will hold such competitions include:
- National Institutes of Health
- National Science Foundation
- Broadband Program
- By Demand. Some programs respond directly to demand from eligible individuals, including:
- Premium Subsidies for COBRA Continuation Coverage
- Unemployment Insurance
- Education Pell Grants
- Food Stamps (SNAP)
- Small Business Loans
- By Federal Agency Plan. Many programs in the Act allocate funding according to public operating and spending plans. These programs include:
- Environmental cleanup of nuclear waste sites
- National parks construction
- Defense and veterans infrastructure programs
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Question: How can I see how much recovery money is coming to my community?
Answer: Until the funding is distributed by the Federal government to states and local governments, and eventually to your community, we won't be able to determine exactly where all of the funding will go. Over the next few weeks and months, there's going to be a lot of data coming in, as we coordinate with different agencies. As soon as the first dollars start to go out, you'll be able to track where the money is going. Detailed state maps will be available to assist your tracking.
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Question: How will we decide which projects and programs will receive economic recovery dollars?
Answer: The federal economic recovery plan sets out specific criteria projects must meet to be eligible to receive funding, and how and when the federal government will distribute these funds. Funding for many projects will be based on existing formulas, including Medicaid, unemployment insurance and funding for K-12 schools. Other projects will be funded through a competitive grant process to determine which of the many proposals submitted will receive a share of these limited resources.
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Question: How will Oklahoma spend the federal economic recovery funds?
Answer: Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry has 5 key priorities for Oklahoma's share of the recovery plan dollars:
- Create new jobs and jump start Oklahoma's economy;
- Train Oklahoma workers and educate Oklahoma students for the good jobs here today, and the new jobs we create tomorrow;
- Rebuild Oklahoma infrastructure -- roads, bridges, water and sewer systems, mass transit, broadband, health information technology and schools;
- Protect struggling Oklahoma families, helping them make ends meet; and
- Invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies to create jobs, save money and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.
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Question: What is a shovel-ready project?
Answer: The economic recovery plan includes millions of dollars to build and repair America's roads, bridges, sewer systems, power grids and communications infrastructure. Priority for funding will be given to "shovel ready" projects - those that have the requisite approvals and permits in place - so that federal funds can be spent as quickly as possible, putting Oklahoma citizens to work and injecting dollars in to Oklahoma's economy.
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Question: How can I find out what Oklahoma projects will receive federal economic recovery dollars?
Answer: The Federal economic recovery plan sets out specific criteria projects must meet to be eligible to receive funding, and how and when the federal government will distribute these funds. Funding for many projects will be based on existing formulas, including Medicaid, unemployment insurance, and funding for K-12 schools. Other projects will be funded through a competitive grant process to determine which of the many proposals submitted will receive a share of these limited resources.
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