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Press Release | August 3, 2020

Governor Stitt announces CARES Act Investment, targeting 30 Community HOPE Centers by year end

OKLAHOMA CITY (Aug. 3, 2020) – Governor Kevin Stitt and First Lady Sarah Stitt, along with Secretary of Human Services and Early Childhood Initiatives Justin Brown, today announced the launch of 30 Community HOPE Centers to be stood up by the end of 2020 that will serve approximately 4,200 children and their adult caregivers. Gov. Stitt and the CARES Forward Team have approved an initial $15 million in CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) to support this statewide effort.

“The First Lady and I have put a stake in the ground to address and reverse the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences in our state,” said Gov. Stitt. “This important, transformative work will develop pathways for children and families to overcome this difficult time. Strengthening Oklahoma’s families has generational impacts and will help us continue our forward momentum toward Top Ten status.”

Community HOPE Centers will utilize community partnerships to provide critical services to families using the science of HOPE as their foundation and will serve children ages 5-18 as well as their adult caregivers.

“The negative effects of childhood trauma are significant and multi-generational,” said First Lady Sarah Stitt. “By providing mental health services, social-emotional learning programs, and educational and nutritional support, these HOPE Centers will be a foundational step to mitigating the negative impacts of COVID in Oklahoma and will ultimately lead to becoming a Hope-Centered state.”

Each Community HOPE Center will have mental health professionals, OKDHS staff, virtual learning tools such as computers and iPads, meals and snacks, a weekend backpack program and other programming available to support families. Read more here.

News Story | July 31, 2020

FOX 25: $9.6 million awarded to over 2,000 childcare centers in Oklahoma

Governor Kevin Stitt and Human Services Secretary Justin Brown announced that approximately $9.6 million in CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) will be awarded to more than 2,200 childcare centers across Oklahoma.

"Childcare workers have been on the front lines of delivering stable care for Oklahoma’s children throughout this pandemic, and their ability to safely expand provide services will be a critical component in reviving Oklahoma’s economy,” said Governor Stitt.

The funds will support the industry’s efforts to deliver safe, essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This supplemental funding will help stabilize the childcare industry as it continues to provide a critical resource for our state in the days and months ahead,” said Stitt.

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) will deliver the one-time funds as Child Care Quality and Sustainability Payments to childcare providers who have maintained active status since March 15, 2020.

Payment amounts will be tiered based on OKDHS’s Reaching for the Stars Quality Rating and Improvement System program. Read more here.

News Story | July 31, 2020

KTEN-TV: Stitt assesses COVID's impact on Ada businesses

ADA, Okla. (KTEN) -- Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is on the road again after being sidelined with COVID-19. He traveled to Ada on Friday to see how coronavirus relief funds were helping the state recover from the pandemic.

"I just want to put my eye on some of these businesses," Stitt said.

He visited Fenton Ford, where the primary problem during the pandemic has been getting vehicles to sell because manufacturing plants were closed. Relief funds totaling $25,000 gave the dealership some breathing room.

"It goes straight to expenses," Fenton Ford owner Cindy Carr said. "You can't say anything other than that was great money, and well spent."

Bill Bolin, owner of PowerLift Foundation Repair, said the government relief money is helping him keep keep his employees on the payroll.

"The business had slowed some," Bolin said. "We had some jobs cancel on us."

Stitt said the state set $100 million aside for small businesses after after receiving funding from the federal CARES Act. Read more here.

Governor Stitt discussing personal protective equipment at a press conference.

Press Release | July 30, 2020

GOVERNOR STITT, SEC. BROWN, EDUCATION STAKEHOLDERS ANNOUNCE PPE ASSISTANCE FOR OKLAHOMA SCHOOLS

OKLAHOMA CITY (July 30, 2020)— Governor Kevin Stitt announced today the State of Oklahoma is allocating $10 million in federal CARES Act funding to supply Oklahoma schools with PPE in order to open safely for in-person learning.

Joined by Secretary of Human Services and Early Childhood Initiatives Justin Brown and education stakeholders from across the state, Gov. Stitt stressed the importance of the health and safety of students and teachers while highlighting the need for schools to resume.

“Schools are an essential part of our society,” said Gov. Stitt. “It is critically important that they operate safely and effectively for all students. I am committed to providing our schools with the resources and support they need in order to welcome students back to the classroom while also prioritizing their health.”

Based on personnel data and requests from the State Department of Education, the State will be providing the following PPE to Oklahoma schools:

1.7 million reusable masks (two per teacher and student)

42,000 clear face shields

1.2 million pairs of disposable gloves

1.2 million disposable gowns.

PPE will be distributed through the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management to regional warehouses across the state for school districts to pick up— with a goal to deliver PPE by August 14. Read more here.

| July 22, 2020

OCPA: Innovative CareerTech program getting Oklahomans back to work

An Oklahoma CareerTech center has created an innovative program to help adults displaced by the coronavirus shutdown move rapidly from the classroom to the workforce.

Tri County Tech, which serves Washington, Nowata, and Osage Counties in northeastern Oklahoma, was awarded a $1 million grant from Gov. Kevin Stitt to create its “Skills to Rebuild” program. The dollars, which come from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund, authorized by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, are designated to help those left unemployed or underemployed by layoffs, business closures, and other impacts of the pandemic.

But Tri County has gone beyond the norm with a flexible, fast-track program designed to accelerate back-to-work efforts by its students.

“Our typical student for this program is 30, maybe a high-school graduate who is unhappy with his or her work status,” said Tri County Superintendent Lindel Fields. The goal is to move those students as rapidly as possible into what Fields calls “gratifying, upwardly mobile careers.”

Students will attend classes—most in person but some online—an average of 8 hours per week with sessions scheduled two nights each week and on Saturday so that those who are still employed can arrange their schedules. One program, for Certified Nursing Assistants, is especially in demand given the pandemic’s impact on the health care system.

Other Skills to Rebuild programs focus on accounting, child development, computer work and cyber-security, and manufacturing. The latter involves machine work and Fields said his curriculum can be condensed to 450 hours from a traditional 900 to 1,000, with no loss of content. Read more here.

Press Release | July 22, 2020

Commerce Releases Statistics from Second Application Period of Oklahoma Business Relief Program

At 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 14, the Oklahoma Department of Commerce (Commerce) reopened applications for Phase 2 of the Oklahoma Business Relief Program (OBRP) with approximately $50 million in funds available. Commerce received nearly one application every 1.3 seconds from 141 participating financial institutions, compared to 131 participating financial institutions in Phase 1. Before 9:00 a.m., the applications exceeded the available funds and the program was closed to new applicants.

Commerce finalized review of 2,502 applications submitted in Phase 1 of OBRP on Friday, July 17, and began the payment process on Monday, July 20, for the last 309 companies associated with Phase 1 submissions. With Phase 1 complete, Commerce staff is transitioning to reviewing the 2,754 applications submitted during Phase 2. Of the applications submitted during Phase 2, 2,659 of them, or 23.9%, are classified as minority-owned.

“To say I’m proud of the assistance we’ve been able to provide through the Oklahoma Business Relief Program would be an understatement. I believe it highlights what is best about our state – our ability to come together and find ways to help each other during difficult times,” said Governor Kevin Stitt. “A total of $100 million over both funding phases of OBRP is now going to help more than 5,000 Oklahoma businesses across the state. We know this is still not enough to help every business that has suffered losses due to the pandemic, but I hope that these efforts can provide the business recipients with assistance to retain employees and maintain operations as our state works to emerge from the economic ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

OKFB COMMENDS $10M IN GRANTS FOR SMALL MEAT PROCESSORS

Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Rodd Moesel today commended the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry’s use of $10 million of CARES Act grants to fund the Food Supply Stability Plan to support small meat processors in Oklahoma.

“Many Oklahoma ranchers and agricultural producers have been devastated by the unprecedented disruptions in our nation’s food supply chain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Moesel said. “Though there was never a shortage of livestock being raised on Oklahoma farms and ranches, a decrease in processing facility space left many grocery store meat counters without their usual abundance while Oklahoma agricultural producers battled with low prices as our food system adjusted to ever-changing realities. The $10 million in grants for Oklahoma meat processing startups and expansions, secured by Gov. Stitt and Sec. Arthur, will provide a great step toward increasing processing capacity in our state and in turn, build strong, local markets for agriculture producers while ensuring a safe, stable food supply for all Oklahomans.”

KTUL-TV: Oklahoma expands hospital surge plan

KTUL-TV: Oklahoma expands hospital surge plan to deal with coronavirus infections

TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) – Oklahoma is expanding its hospital surge planto deal with increasing cases of coronavirus.

Gov. Kevin Stitt and other officials Tuesday said they are adding 340 beds at multiple hospitals to the state’s surge plan.

Col. Lance Frye, the interim commissioner of health, said they also have the ability to add 125 beds in Tulsa and 95 in Oklahoma City if needed through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

They said the state’s ability to manage intensive-care patients remains strong, as does the state’s supply of protective equipment, such as masks, gloves, isolation gowns and face shields. [The hospital surge plan is made possible due to $100 million in CARES Act CRF designated by Governor Kevin Stitt. More can be read here.]

News Story | July 10, 2020

KFOR-TV: State grant to fund tuition-free programs to accelerate employment opportunities

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (KFOR) – A grant from the State of Oklahoma will fund tuition-free programs at Tri County Tech in Bartlesville to accelerate employment opportunities for Oklahomans.

Gov. Kevin Stitt on Friday announced a $1 million grant through the CARES Act Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER), according to a news release from the governor’s office.

The grant enables Tri County Tech to launch its Skills to Rebuild initiative in partnership with several local employers, according to the news release.

Skills to Rebuild will provide accelerated programs to train 375 individuals to immediately enter high demand, well-paying jobs in the region, generating $10 million in annual payroll in Oklahoma’s private sector.

Students who complete the programs will not have to pay tuition thanks to the CARES Act, according to the news release. Read more here.

Press Release | July 10, 2020

GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES $4.2 MILLION CARES ACT TO CITIES, COUNTIES

OKLAHOMA CITY (July 10, 2020) – Governor Kevin Stitt today announced that $4.2 million in CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) is being distributed today to 18 city and county governments to offset expenses incurred due to impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Until there is a cure for COVID-19, Oklahoma is adjusting to a new normal, which includes our local government services that are on the frontlines of keeping us safe and assisting our must vulnerable populations,” said Gov. Stitt. “Congress entrusted the State with this critical emergency federal aid, and I appreciate the partnership of local leaders who are participating in our thorough process to ensure we are delivering the dollars on target.”

The breakdown of funds awarded by city and county are as follows:

Entity	Amount
Choctaw County	$19,183.47
City of Anadarko	$38,654.62
City of Eakly	$2,401.19
City of Edmond	$1,705.03
City of El Reno	$17,954.84
City of Eufaula	$4,489.98
City of Guthrie	$40,987.96
City of Marlow	$1,399.00
City of McAlester	$1,250,413.93
City of Owasso	$48,738.43
City of Ponca City	$2,333,358.49
City of Tonkawa	$27,796.81
Comanche County	$161,369.81
Okfuskee County	$1,020.87
Payne County	$57,309.33
Pittsburg County	$48,996.84
Pontotoc County	$35,773.29
Wagoner County	$156,546.52

In May, Governor Stitt established the CARES FORWARD team comprised of cabinet secretaries and experts in finance, auditing, and federal grant writing to provide rigorous oversight and to maximize the distribution of $1.2 billion in CRF federal funds provided by Congress. Read more here.

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