OML joins the Oklahoma Strategic Alliance as a Value Alliance Partner to better serve Oklahomans.
The Oklahoma Municipal League formally joined the Oklahoma Strategic Alliance as a Value Added Alliance Partner. The Strategic Alliance now pools resources from the Oklahoma Secretary of Energy and Environment, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, the Oklahoma Rural Water Association, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and the Oklahoma Municipal League.
In a historic signing, leaders from each organization formally signed the agreement on March 4, 2021 at the Oklahoma Rural Water Association headquarters bringing OML on as a partner.
“The real power of the Strategic Alliance is our collective effort and how we represent so many Oklahomans,” Oklahoma Secretary of Energy and Environment, Kenneth Wagoner said. “We now have the collective vision of everyone talking to the legislature expressing where our monetary needs are, where the health, safety and environmental needs are for rural and small communities.”
Governor Kevin Stitt ratified the Oklahoma Strategic Alliance in 2019. In 2020 the Alliance Partners have helped save rural water and wastewater systems $653,247.
“I am glad to see what started as a casual conversation among friends, is now a reality,” ORWA Deputy CEO, Jimmy Seago said. “Adding OML as a Value Alliance Partner is monumental and unprecedented. Never before have municipal and rural water organizations joined forces to work together, share resources, and collectively focus on critical infrastructure issues.
“Here in Oklahoma we face an aging infrastructure and workforce, but with our Alliance leadership team, I am certain we have now well positioned Oklahoma for a sustainable future,” said Seago. “This is a historic moment for Oklahoma as we are now truly one voice for water.”
Across the state, each organization works collaboratively to help water systems become more sustainable and better position the system for growth, efficiency and continued quality of service to Oklahomans.
“While this won’t change our day-to-day, now we have more resources and now we can focus on critical infrastructure issues that plague every community,” Executive Director of the Oklahoma Municipal League, Mike Fina said. “The future is bright for Oklahomans because the work we are doing here is going to improve Oklahomans’ lives.”
For more information on the Oklahoma Strategic Alliance or sustainability services, visit orwa.org or email okalliance@orwa.org.
— Written by JD Rosman
The Oklahoma Strategic Alliance was formed in 2019. Governor Kevin Stitt set forth a vision of an agreement committing the Office of the Oklahoma Secretary of Energy and Environment, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Oklahoma Rural Water Association, and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to work together to improve the sustainability of Oklahoma rural and small community water and wastewater systems. For more information on the Oklahoma Strategic Alliance contact okalliance@orwa.org.
