INOLA, Okla. (OBV) – The in-development Port of Inola wastewater infrastructure project is receiving high praise from Oklahoma’s Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) as well as legislators.
OMES oversees the state’s disbursement of American Rescue Plan Act State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (ARPA-SLFRF).
The Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) received hundreds of millions of dollars in pandemic relief funds in 2023. Of that money, $14 million was dedicated to Port of Inola and the City of Inola wastewater needs. The OWRB Tribal Matching Fund, Muscogee Creek Nation, Rogers County ARPA-SLFRF and other sources provided additional funding.
The plan uses $10 million of the $14 million to improve Inola’s existing wastewater infrastructure. The remaining $4 million is to be used to connect Inola to a new wastewater treatment plant inside the Port of Inola, as well as to assist with engineering environmental clearance and connections within the industrial park to the new treatment plant.
“I’m thankful for the investment being made in the Port of Inola project,” said Sen. Julie McIntosh, R-Wagoner. “This will be instrumental in modernizing our infrastructure and fueling economic growth in the Tulsa metro area. With moneys allocated to develop a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility and implement critical system upgrades, this investment is set to drive expansion and create new job opportunities.”
The Port of Inola project seeks to give the Tulsa metro area a modern and sustainable wastewater treatment system that will have enough capacity to provide adequate and resilient service to residents and accommodate potential growth.
Inola’s current wastewater system will transition from a lagoon system to the aforementioned treatment plant at the Port Inola, which is envisioned to be a 2,200-acre industrial park that provides more efficient capacity for all water from the city and port.
The new system will also adequately treat wastewater that is discharged into the Verdigris River, meeting environmental water quality standards, according to OMES officials.
“The people of Oklahoma deserve infrastructure that is modern, resilient and capable of supporting both our communities and our economy,” said Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola. “This investment ensures the Port of Inola project delivers just that by addressing long-standing infrastructure challenges and laying the foundation for growth in northeast Oklahoma. Projects like this demonstrate our commitment to transparency, effectiveness and responsible stewardship of federal relief funds to create real, lasting benefits for Oklahomans.”
Port of Inola is one of nine ARPA-SLFRF projects under the direction of the OWRB to transform water and wastewater infrastructure across Oklahoma.
The Tulsa metro area lost 20,000 manufacturing jobs and 60,000 retail and hospitality jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Rogers County Port Authority. An intention for the Port of Inola project is to reverse those losses and create new opportunities for businesses and workers through critical infrastructure improvements, according to OMES officials.
“Strong communities and are built on strong infrastructure, and the Port of Inola project exemplifies the progress that is possible when leaders at all levels work together,” said Julie Cunningham, executive director of OWRB. “We especially appreciate the governor and state legislators for their continued commitment to investing in reliable water and wastewater systems that are the foundation of economic growth and long-term prosperity, and we look forward to the lasting opportunities this project will bring to Oklahomans across the entire region.”
The Port of Inola project is slated to be completed by October 2026.
