2016 Issue 7
Develop, Innovate, Prosper
OCAST Provides Funding for 54 Projects, Furthering Economic Growth OCAST, the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology, awarded $7,464,058 for 48 research and development projects from the development of novel methods to treat MRSA infections to new ways to treat breast cancer to the development of a new manufacturing process for the aerospace industry. “These projects demonstrate that the future of innovation in Oklahoma is strong,” stated Dan Luton, director of programs for OCAST. In addition to awarding funding for research and development projects, OCAST also awarded six internships through the Intern Partnerships Program. The Intern Partnerships Program is designed to connect industry to academia while building tomorrow’s workforce. The program has proven successful through the many accomplishments students made while interning at their respective companies. According to Cornell Cross, associate programs director at OCAST, “The Intern Partnerships program has allowed students to make meaningful contributions to research and development projects while gaining valuable hands-on work experience.” OCAST programs are designed to grow and diversify Oklahoma’s economy, and the awards made today reflect Oklahoma’s commitment to expanding its technology-based economy. “Today a state must compete globally as well as locally,” according to C. Michael Carolina, executive director of OCAST. “Today we compete with Boulder and Austin, just as we compete with Japan and Germany. Making investments such as those made today will help Oklahoma remain viable in the global economy and position us for future economic growth and diversification.”
For a full list of funding receipts visit: ok.gov/ocast/documents/PR160621.pdf
About OCAST:
The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology is a state agency charged with leading Oklahoma’s technology-based economic development efforts, supporting the efforts of start-ups and entrepreneurs to transform promising innovations from concepts into commercial products. OCAST also is an active supporter of STEM education across Oklahoma’s common education system and provides funding to support internships between local industries and two-and four-year colleges and universities.
Community Development Block Grant Program Public Input Sessions for FY17 p. 3 Adult Basic Education Program Receives $10,000 p. 4 Tulsa Electrical JATC is Helping First-Year Apprentices p. 7
THE STATE OF DEVELOPMENT Laying a Foundation for Growth
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program enables rural communities to finance a variety of public infrastructure and economic improvements. One of the missions of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce (ODOC) is to address the community and economic development challenges facing rural Oklahoma communities. ODOC is committed to ensuring that rural communities maintain their infrastructure at levels that meet current and future citizen needs and foster economic growth and development. This program, administered by ODOC impacts the day-to-day lives and quality of life of our citizens. TX
$11.7 million awarded for infrastructure improvements (during fiscal year 2016)
52 new jobs
(through the CDBG-EDIF program)
220,000+ individual beneficiaries (through grants awarded)
98 new projects in rural Oklahoma Source: Community Development Performance Number for FY16
65%
of the projects funded went to communities with a population of less than 1,500. Programs include private and public sector improvment projects.
For more, information contact our Director of Programs, Scott Myers, at 405-815-5356 or email scott.myers@okcommerce.gov
Community Development Block Grant Program Schedules Public Input Sessions for FY17 Through grants and funding programs, communities can make great strides in improving their physical and social infrastructure. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds are provided by the federal government and managed by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to help ensure Oklahoma’s most critical needs are addressed. CDBG includes the following:
Water/Wastewater Phase 1 Engineering: Provides grants to help develop the engineering of water/wastewater projects and to help secure a construction permit from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Water/Wastewater Construction: Provides construction dollars for those communities that have already developed their final plans and specifications or that have already received their permit from DEQ.
The Community Development at ODOC has scheduled three CDBG specific Public Input sessions to discuss the upcoming FY 2017 Program Year.
Capital Improvement Planning (CIP): Funding to help communities create or update a local inventory of governmental capital assets and a local capital improvement plan & budget.
These CDBG input sessions are designed to get ideas, comments, suggestions, and feedback from the public regarding the State CDBG program. Participation is not mandatory for prospective applicants. Participants need only to attend one of the three sessions listed below.
Economic Development Infrastructure Financing (EDIF): Provides infrastructure financing to local governments for the public infrastructure businesses need to create jobs, primarily for individuals earning a low or moderate income.
These input sessions are part of the overall State Consolidated Plan Citizen Participation process which is required annually in order to obtain continued program funding from the US Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD).
Community Revitalization: Provides grant funds for undertaking various types of activities other than water or wastewater projects. Examples include community centers, senior centers, streets, drainage and housing rehabilitation.
CDBG PUBLIC INPUT SESSIONS July 26, 2016 - Weatherford 10 AM - 12 PM, Fire Safety Building, Room 1 Western Technology Center
CDBG/REAP: Provides grant funds for community development projects that are matched dollar for dollar with state appropriated Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) grants. CDBG Small Cities: Helps fund infrastructure and economic improvement projects for Oklahoma communities with a population between 15,000 and 50,000 and that are currently not HUD designated entitlement communities.
July 27, 2016 - Okmulgee 10 AM - 12 PM, Panter Building, Room 104 Green Country Technology Center July 28, 2016 - Oklahoma City 10 AM - 12 PM, Business Conference Center (BCC) Room J - Metro Tech, Springlake Campus Register by emailing Steven Hoover, CDBG Planner – Community Development steven.hoover@okcommerce.gov
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Adult Basic Education Program Receives $10,000 to Support Adult Literacy
Dollar General Literacy Foundation awarded OSU Institute of Technology’s Adult Basic Education program a $10,000 grant to support adult literacy. This local grant award is part of over $7.1 million in grants awarded to more than 900 schools, nonprofits and organizations across the 43 states that Dollar General serves. “We are so thankful to the Dollar General Foundation for this generous grant,” said Fran Colombin, instructor of Adult Basic Education at OSUIT. “This money will enable us to serve about 100 adults in Okmulgee County during the 20162017 school year.” Colombin said their focus this year will be to help adults increase their numeracy levels, which will provide students the opportunity to develop higher level math skills that are needed to pass their GED exams, further their education, incorporate job training and provide better employment opportunities. OSUIT’s mission is to serve as the
lead institution of higher education in Oklahoma and the region providing comprehensive, high-quality, advancing technology programs and services to prepare and sustain a diverse student body as competitive members of a world-class workforce and contributing members of society. As part of its services, OSUIT’s Adult Learning Center provides adult basic education and GED classes in four locations across the region. This involves partnerships with a number of organizations. Serving approximately 150 students annually, the OSUIT ABE program is the highest rated ABE program with transitioning students to college in the state of Oklahoma. “Consistent with our mission of serving others, we are excited to provide these organizations with funding to further literacy and education across the communities we call home,” said Todd Vasos, CEO of Dollar General. “It is always so exciting to see the true and
Consistent with our mission of serving others, we are excited to provide these organizations with funding to further literacy and education across the communities we call home.
~ Todd Vasos, CEO of Dollar General
meaningful impact the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has on both children and adults looking to improve their lives through literacy.” The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is proud to support initiatives that help others improve their lives through literacy and education. Since its inception in 1993, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded more than $120 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping more than 7.3 million individuals take their first steps toward literacy or continued education.
Chasing Precipitation Universities in Oklahoma use unmanned aerial systems to predict severe weather When a storm is approaching every minute counts. Early detection is crucial. As home to the National Weather Center and one of the most respected schools for meteorology in the nation, Oklahoma knows a thing or two about weather research. Now, researchers are preparing to take that knowledge even further. The National Science Foundation recently provided a $6 million grant to CLOUD MAP (Collaboration Leading Operation Unmanned Development for Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics), to conduct Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) research in Oklahoma and other states. CLOUD MAP is a four-year, four-university collaboration to develop capabilities that will allow meteorologists to use unmanned aircraft as a common, useful everyday tool. The partnership is led by Oklahoma State University (OSU) and partners include the University of Oklahoma (OU), The University of Kentucky and the University of Nebraska. “We have been exploring ways of doing sampling of the atmosphere using small UASs for many years now,” says Phillip Chilson, professor, School of Meteorology & Advanced Radar Research Center, OU. “It’s just been difficult to gain access into the airspace until recently.”
Image by Robert H. Taylor challenges that need to be resolved,” says Chilson. “That’s where OU comes in because we have the National Severe Storm Laboratory. It’s a very exciting time.” “UASs are well-suited for the lower atmosphere, namely the lower boundary layer that has a large impact on the atmosphere and where much of the weather phenomena begins,” says Dr. Jamey Jacob, director, Unmanned Systems Research Institute, OSU. The boundary layer’s proximity to the ground and its transient nature are what limits the technology that can be used, according to Jacob.
For the most part, meteorologists rely on radar and ground-based instruments that are unable to collect the necessary data. Though scientists have used large UASs to study hurricanes, high costs prohibit widespread study of atmospheric conditions and the vehicles aren’t designed to fly at low altitudes, where meteorologists say storms are born.
OSU is in the first six months of the four-year project and they have developed prototype systems to measure significant meteorological parameters using unmanned aircraft, which will be evaluated in a joint campaign this summer. But UAS research is going beyond just weather research.
“The towers that we have are not particularly high enough to penetrate the depths of the atmosphere that we need,” says Chilson. “Most of our motion-sensing devices can’t always detect the atmosphere when there’s no precipitation. Or if we can detect it, it’s expensive, so finally we have this solution and we can send out small UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) to sample the atmosphere.”
The U.S. Small Business Administration also awarded a $500,000 Cluster Initiative contract for the area’s UAS sector as part of the Oklahoma/South Kansas proposal. It presents a great opportunity to work collaboratively using new resources to build on past success. The $500,000 proposal has up to four additional years of renewal at the same amount and will be managed by Development Capital Networks with guidance from the Oklahoma UAS Council.
The partner organizations have four years to demonstrate that UASs can have a strong impact on weather forecasting. Unfortunately, there are still a lot of unknowns that scientists at OU and OSU are working to uncover. The process to collect the data is one of those unknown factors. “For example, if at a certain point in time we were to have independent stations that were to release small UAV’s into the atmosphere, collect data and land, how close to space must the stations be in order to have an impact on the lower forecast models? How long do they need to monitor the atmosphere? There’s a lot of engineering and logistical
The Oklahoma/South Kansas proposal includes 18 measurable goals, such as attracting technologies from federal labs and universities; supporting a variety of national, regional and local events and attracting venture capital and angel investors and connecting them with entrepreneurs. Funds for UAS research are presenting new opportunities at every turn. “This data will be used to improve our understanding and develop more accurate forecasting models in the future,” says Jacob. “This project will save lives and property by improving our understanding of the atmosphere and eventually providing weather forecasts with increased accuracy.”
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Commissioner Doak Declares Earthquake Insurance Market “Noncompetitive” Commissioner John D. Doak informed insurance companies that sell earthquake policies in Oklahoma that the earthquake insurance market is noncompetitive. The order will change the way insurers file their rates with the Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID). “There needs to be a valid basis for any rate increase,” Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak said. “My job is to protect Oklahomans, and this change will ensure earthquake coverage remains available and affordable.” A public hearing was held last month to discuss the rise in earthquake insurance rates and the availability of suitable earthquake insurance coverage for Oklahoma consumers. During the hearing, data was released on the competitiveness of the earthquake insurance market. The Commissioner found that a reasonable degree of competition does not exist in the market and that consumers have a limited ability to shop for a competitive price. Because of the findings, Commissioner Doak issued the order that requires property and casualty insurers to file their earthquake insurance rates before using them.
Prior to the order, insurance companies followed the “use and file” system that is required in a competitive market. Under the “use and file” system, an insurer can use any rate so long as it filed the rate with the Department within 30 days after implementation. Since the Commissioner found the earthquake insurance market “noncompetitive,” the rating laws revert to a “file and use” system. In this type of system, rate increases must be submitted to the OID before they can be used. Commissioner Doak has the option to challenge any rate change he finds to be inappropriate. “This change will ultimately protect Oklahomans and help our state’s earthquake insurance market to become competitive,” said Commissioner Doak. “A competitive market is healthy for the growth and sustainability of Oklahoma insurance needs.” The order takes effect immediately. It will not affect existing policies until their renewal. If you have any other questions about earthquake insurance, contact the Oklahoma Insurance Department at 1-800-522-0071 or visit our website at oid.ok.gov.
Oklahoma’s first K-12 Fab Lab was opened at Muskogee High School Oklahoma’s first K-12 Fab Lab was opened at Muskogee High School. The lab is one of only three Fab Labs in the state of Oklahoma. What is a Fab Lab? Fab Lab is short for Fabrication Laboratory and it is a place packed with advanced technology and equipment that encourages innovation and invention, and provides a platform for project-based, hands-on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education. To be an official Fab Lab, the facility must be open to the public and share a common set of tools and processes with other Fab Labs across the world. This affiliation encourages the knowledge and creative resources that come from being part of a global knowledge-sharing community. Muskogee is the first and currently only, Oklahoma Fab Lab with this global affiliation, open to grades K-12. The Port of Muskogee’s Industrial Development Office was given a tour prior to the June 11th Open House and Grand Opening by lab manager Nathan Hill. Hill gave a thorough tour of the facility and the extensive collection of machines for 3D-printing, laser engraving, wood working, vinyl cutting, plasma cutting and welding. The lab was funded by a
portion of the 2013 Muskogee bond issue, as an effort to level the playing field for STEM education in Muskogee. Hill shared, “I had two main goals for the Fab Lab: first, for it to be accessible to all; and, second for it to eventually be selfsustaining.” Hill’s vision for the lab in the near future is for it to provide indepth classes for each of the specific pieces of equipment, and to present project opportunities for everyone starting at kindergarten. The lab is available, by appointment, to residents and businesses in the area. There is no charge to Muskogee Public School students and educators, or other students (including college). More information and a full schedule of membership and material fees, can be found on the MPS Fab Lab website at: http://mhs.mpsi20.org/fablab For more information about The Port of Muskogee Industrial Development Office, contact Eric Miller, Director of Industrial Development, Muskogee City-County Port Authority, (918) 6827887 or email to eric@muskogeeport.com.
Tulsa Electrical JATC is Helping First-Year Apprentices While graduates of the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) apprenticeship programs are all but guaranteed a good-paying job, the first year can be tough in terms of up-front costs. With books, tools and other supplies, an apprentice in his first year can expect to pay between $1,000 and $1,200 out of pocket. So when Ted Jenkins, training director for the Tulsa, Okla., Tulsa Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC), learned about a program through the Department of Labor’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act that provides financial assistance, he applied. “When you come in to the apprenticeship, you’re at your lowest pay scale. A lot of times you’re coming from starter jobs that don’t pay well,” said Jenkins, a Tulsa, Okla., Local 584 member. “There’s never really been any help for these apprentices, and it can be a struggle when you first come in.” Tulsa, Okla., Local 584’s apprenticeship program is taking advantage of a program to help first-year apprentices cover their costs, easing the barrier to entry for many. More and more, people are touting the benefits of apprenticeships. You learn a marketable skill and get paid while doing so. Unlike a four-year college degree where graduates often emerge with thousands of dollars in debt and precarious job prospects, graduates of an apprenticeship have no such debt. And they will make an average of $50,000 in their first year. Still, that first year can be difficult financially. Not everybody has $1,000 to spend, even if it’s for an investment in their future. “It’s been very helpful,” Jenkins said. “We don’t want these costs to be a barrier to entry.” Jenkins says the Tulsa apprenticeship program was the first in the state to apply. They had eight recipients their first year. This year they will have about 15 to 20. “So far it’s allowed me to save almost a grand,” said Tyler Ford, a first year apprentice “It’s paid for my books and my first year of tools, which I use every day on the job.”
Tulsa, Okla., Local 584’s apprenticeship program is taking advantage of a program to help first-year apprentices cover their costs, easing the barrier to entry for many. The funding goes directly to the apprenticeship program, which purchases the materials. The money does not need to be repaid. Since the program is federal, any accredited apprenticeship in the country can apply. Funds are for first-year apprentices only. For further information, Jenkins says trainers can talk with their local workforce, or employment office. The Tulsa program has been so successful that Jenkins was asked to join the Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development. The Council is responsible for allocating funds for programs that ensure Oklahoma’s working men and women are educated and trained for careers in the modern economy. Council members include business and political leaders, and representatives from labor and community organizations. “It’s important that we have a say in where the money goes, and to push for apprenticeships,” Jenkins said. “By 2020 more jobs will require some sort of certification beyond a high school diploma, and apprenticeships like the IBEW’s are an excellent opportunity for the right person.”
There is no cap on the number of apprentices who can receive funding. As long as apprentices apply to an accredited program and qualify for assistance, they will receive funding.
JATC is in the process of upgrading their training facility from 5,000-square-feet to 18,000 square-feet. The state of the art training building will meet their apprentices’ needs and fits with workforce training efforts as they continuing to train the next generation of skilled electricians in the Tulsa area.
“My wife and I were kind of tight on money when it was time to pay for books, and it took that pressure off,” said first-year apprentice Ross Peary.
For more information visit tulsajatc.org or contact Shelley Cadamy, Executive Director 918-595-8824 or email scadamy@workforcetulsa.com
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Environmental Excellence Award, Call For Nominations 2016 Call for Nominations! Have you or someone you know been keeping Oklahoma beautiful this past year? Don’t be shy about what you, someone else or your favorite organization has done to improve Oklahoma’s aesthetic, environmental or sustainable quality of life. Submit a nomination today for one of Keep Oklahoma Beautiful’s Environmental Excellence Awards. Categories Include: • Business • Collegiate Effort • K-12 Educators & Institutions • KOB Youth Awards (EL/MS & HS) • Government Programs (Municipality, State, County, & Tribes) • Nonprofit Organizations • Volunteer Community Group • Affiliate Champion
Upcoming Events FRESH PAINT DAYS IN OKLAHOMA Applications Available until July 31, 2016 Is there a building in your community that is in need of a little bit of TLC? Transform it with a 2016 Fresh Paint Days grant! Selected participants will restore the exterior of a structure during the month of September with the use of paint, donated by H.I.S Coatings of Oklahoma City, a stipend to purchase supplies, funded by Public Service Company of Oklahoma and the OK Department of Environmental Quality, and of course, a lot of elbow grease from willing volunteers! Keep Oklahoma Beautiful will deliver your paint within a reasonable driving distance from your location. Applications will only be accepted online and the deadline is July 31, 2016. To find the online application, project requirements and a tentative program calendar visit: bit.ly/1G1YYcB LABOR DAY Monday, September 5, 2016 State Offices Closed
The deadline to nominate is August 8, 2016. Finalists will be honored and winners announced on Thursday, November 17, 2016 during the 26th Annual Environmental Excellence Awards Celebration at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Find out more about the 2016 EEC at: www.keepoklahomabeautiful.com/award-guidelines If you have any questions or need help completing the nomination process, do not hesitate to contact the KOB office at 405.286.9141 or admin@keepoklahomabeautiful.com
NEW PIONEER A PRODUCT OF THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE EDITOR IN CHIEF: Kimberly Hickerson CONTRIBUTORS: Stefanie Appleton, Bryan Boone PHOTO CREDITS: Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Robert H. TaylorOU, JATC FOR NEW PIONEER SUBMISSIONS AND STORY IDEAS CONTACT: Kimberly Hickerson Editor-in-Chief Oklahoma Department of Commerce 900 N. Stiles Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73104 (405) 815-5240 kimberly.hickerson@okcommerce.gov facebook.com/OKcommerce @OKcommerce OKcommerce.gov issuu.com/newpioneerOK