Spotlight: State of Oklahoma

GrantWatch is shining a spotlight on the State of Oklahoma! Oklahoma is rich with coal, crude oil, and natural gas. In addition, the state also boasts an abundance of minerals like limestone, salt, and various clays. It’s no wonder then, that mining and drilling helped to shape the state and allowed it to grow and prosper. Oklahoma’s Native Americans are also a significant part of the growth and development of the state, especially the Cherokee Nation, which is one of the largest recognized tribes in the United States. Today the Cherokee Nation spread across 14 counties and has more than 450,000 tribal citizens worldwide.

GrantWatch has provided listings of grant opportunities to help with a developing and/or expanding projects and programs vital to the growth and strengthening of communities throughout the State of Oklahoma. In addition, GrantWatch offers a list of close to 1,700 grants in its Community and Economic Development grants listing category. Beyond that, there are also countrywide, and even international, grant funding opportunities listed.

What’s in a Name?

Some basic facts about the Sooner State include how Oklahoma got its nickname in the first place. Known affectionately as the Sooner State, it really depends on who you talk to as to where the name originated. Some will say that the name comes from the University of Oklahoma’s football team. Back in 1908, the team took the name, and a statewide football tradition was born. However, there are other folks who point to an older origin. According to some Oklahomans, the name actually comes from the great Land Rush of 1889. The Indian Appropriations Acts paved the way for settlement using land formerly owned by American Indians. The land grab invited in new settlers while pushing indigenous peoples out.

The takeaway from this dispute over the moniker’s origin is nicely wrapped up for us though. If you take both stories and all the elements into account, you’re left with a nickname that encompasses American Indian heritage and pioneer spirit and combines them with a sense of pride that all Oklahomans can wear as a badge of honor and pride.

See below for some fun and interesting facts about the State of Oklahoma!

Some Fun Facts About the State of Oklahoma

• “Thank Oklahoma for the pecan pie.” (And, believe me, we do!)
• “People were introduced to the first parking meter in Oklahoma.” (Actually, we’re not sure how to feel about this one!)
• “The state brought us Brad Pitt.” (Although he hails from Springfield, MO, Shawnee, OK where he was born! And again, thank you very much!)
• “There’s an official state meal. If you order it, you’ll get fried okra, cornbread, barbecue pork, squash, biscuits, sausage and gravy, grits, corn, strawberries, chicken fried steak, pecan pie, and black-eyed peas.” (Hungry?)
• “You can find the oil capital of the world. In 1901, oil was struck in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Once word of the natural oil wells beneath the area’s ground got out, the city’s population rapidly increased. Today, Houston, Texas has earned the title of the center of the oil industry.” (destguides.com, “50 Interesting & Fun Facts About Oklahoma State to Know“)

Then There’s Some Interesting Facts About Oklahoma

• “The Red River is unique. The Oklahoma Red River’s name is quite literal. Due to mineral and clay deposits in the soil of the river, the water has a reddish hue as it flows to the Gulf of Mexico. It’s one of the only rivers in the country with this characteristic.”
• “The state vegetable is a fruit. Since 2005, the strawberry has been Oklahoma’s state fruit. There’s also a state vegetable, but it might surprise you. In 2007, the watermelon was named the official symbol, as Oklahoma’s state vegetable.” (Watermelon and strawberries on a lazy spring afternoon? Yes, please!)
• “Picher is too toxic to live in. For over a century, Picher, Oklahoma was a mining town. Since 2009, the town has been unincorporated and has been largely abandoned since the 1990s. It was found that its water supply was highly contaminated and the ground was prone to sinkholes, making it too risky to live there.”
• “The twist tie was a state invention. In 1961, Charles E. Burford was determined to solve a common household problem. At the time, bread that was stored in bags or purchased from the store would rapidly go stale or become moldy due to air exposure. Farms utilized a wire-tying method to package crops and feed to increase shelf-life. Burford took this concept and invented the first twist tie in Maysville, Oklahoma.” (And one last time, we thank you, Oklahoma! Seriously, we all use them!) (destguides.com, “50 Interesting & Fun Facts About Oklahoma State to Know”)

Below is a list of grants and other community development funding available for the State of Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Community and Economic Development Grants, In-kind Support and Opportunities

1. Grants and in-kind support to eligible Oklahoma nonprofits, government agencies, and neighborhood and community groups to improve parks/public areas. A Letter of Intent (LOI) must be submitted by applicants prior to applying. The program supports landscaping and beautification projects with parks, medians, and other public lands.
2. There are grants to Oklahoma local government agencies to inventory their assets and use that information to prepare a strategic plan. Required registrations are to be completed in advance of the deadline. Funding is to undertake a comprehensive inventory of all governmentally owned assets. Moreover, based on this inventory assessment, a 5-year strategic capital improvement plan will be developed. All assets will be placed on GIS mapping.
3. In addition, grants to Oklahoma nonprofits for programs designed to provide legal services to vulnerable residents. Funding is for programs supporting legally vulnerable citizens with mortgage issues and to improve neighborhoods. Eligible uses of funds are limited to providing mortgage foreclosure defense services to underprivileged Oklahomans, and programs to revitalize Oklahoma communities.
4. An opportunity for eligible Oklahoma early-stage companies to participate in a business development program. The opportunity is to provide participants with coaching and mentorship, deals and perks from a variety of companies, opportunities to pitch their idea(s) to investors, and support following the program. The goal of the program is for graduates to participate in an investment accelerator or raise a seed round.
5. There are grants to community-based nonprofits to facilitate workplace-readiness for women. Required registrations will take several weeks to complete. As a result, eligible programs prepare women to work in fields in which women are historically underrepresented or where women are disproportionately concentrated in lower-wage occupations.

Additional Oklahoma Community and Economic Development Grants and Opportunities

1. Also, grants to nonprofits, government agencies, tribal entities, and public housing authorities for neighborhood improvement projects. Required registrations will take several weeks to complete. Funding is to revitalize distressed neighborhoods.
2. Opportunities for eligible startups to participate in a business development program. Businesses in all industries, verticals, and models can submit an application. Participants will receive investment funding, mentoring, deals and perks, and networking support. Participants will also attend a 12-week in-person program in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
3. There are grants to nonprofits to meet community needs. Funding is for programs and activities to strengthen communities. In fact, areas to strengthen include affordable housing, small businesses, and neighborhood revitalization.
4. In addition, grants to eligible organizations for projects to benefit local communities. Organizations are aligned with one of the following areas: local community, water, and food. Funding is to address issues, including hunger, agricultural education and development, and habitat conservation. Other issues include nutrient stewardship, watershed restoration, and sustainable communities.
5. Lastly, grants of up to $50,000 to community leaders, elected officials, and tribal leaders for capital projects to revitalize public community spaces in rural areas. The purpose of the program is to create and/or restore communal spaces that foster personal connections. Projects must benefit small towns with a population of less than 50,000.

The Bottom Line

This rugged state has much to explore. We hope you’ve enjoyed learning a bit about the State of Oklahoma!

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