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| Association of Central Oklahoma Governments | |
|---|---|
| Name | Association of Central Oklahoma Governments |
| Formation | 1965 |
| Type | Regional planning organization |
| Headquarters | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Region served | Central Oklahoma |
| Leader title | Executive Director |
Association of Central Oklahoma Governments
The Association of Central Oklahoma Governments is a regional planning and interjurisdictional coordination agency based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It serves central Oklahoma municipalities and counties by coordinating transportation, land use, emergency preparedness, and economic initiatives among local governments, metropolitan planning organizations, and federal agencies. The organization works with entities such as the United States Department of Transportation, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States Environmental Protection Agency, and regional councils to align local projects with state and federal priorities.
The organization was established during a period of regionalization following models like the Council of Governments movement and influenced by landmark legislation such as the Interstate Highway Act and the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964. Early collaborations involved the Oklahoma City metropolitan expansion, partnerships with Oklahoma County, Canadian County, and coordination with federal programs administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Economic Development Administration. The agency’s evolution paralleled regional responses to events including severe weather incidents tied to the Great Plains tornado outbreaks and infrastructure funding shifts after the passage of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act.
Governance is conducted through a board composed of elected officials from member cities such as Oklahoma City, Edmond, Norman, Moore, and county commissioners from Oklahoma County, Canadian County, Cleveland County, and Pottawatomie County. The board interacts with metropolitan planning organizations like the Oklahoma Department of Transportation planning units and regional bodies similar to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. Executive staff work with advisors from institutions including University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Central Oklahoma Transportation and Land Use Center, and nonprofit partners such as The Nature Conservancy and American Planning Association. Committees mirror structures found in organizations like the National Association of Regional Councils and the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations.
Programs include comprehensive planning initiatives akin to those by the Metropolitan Council (Minnesota), hazard mitigation planning coordinated with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and water supply planning referenced by agencies like the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. Services extend to technical assistance for small towns similar to programs run by the Rural Community Assistance Partnership, grant writing support comparable to efforts by the National League of Cities, and demographic analysis using data from the United States Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and American Community Survey. The agency provides training and workshops patterned after offerings from the International City/County Management Association and the Urban Land Institute.
Regional transportation planning responsibilities align with metropolitan planning requirements of the United States Department of Transportation and include long-range transportation plans, transit coordination with providers such as Embark, and bicycle-pedestrian planning in consultation with advocacy groups like Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and Walkable Communities, Inc.. The organization coordinates roadway projects affected by corridors like the I-35, I-40, and I-44, and integrates freight considerations tied to the BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad. Planning products reflect federal requirements from the Federal Transit Administration and environmental reviews informed by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Economic development initiatives are modeled after programs by the Economic Development Administration and include coordination with local chambers such as the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber and workforce agencies like the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. Grant administration involves federal funding streams from the Community Development Block Grant program, disaster recovery funds managed in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and transportation grants under FAST Act allocations. The organization supports small business recovery as in SBA Disaster Loan Program responses and regional competitiveness efforts paralleling Economic Development Districts.
Member jurisdictions include municipalities and counties across central Oklahoma, such as Oklahoma City, Edmond, Norman, Moore, Yukon, Del City, Midwest City, and counties including Oklahoma County, Canadian County, Cleveland County, Grady County, Logan County, Pottawatomie County, and Lincoln County. The diversity of members resembles multi-jurisdictional assemblies found in regions like Metroplan in Arkansas and the Metropolitan Council (Minnesota).
Funding sources combine federal grants from agencies such as the United States Department of Transportation, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Economic Development Administration with state appropriations from the Oklahoma Legislature and membership dues from cities and counties. Project-specific funding often leverages competitive programs like the BUILD grants and TIGER grants and incorporates local match commitments from municipal budgets patterned after practices recommended by the Government Finance Officers Association.
The agency’s impact includes coordinated disaster recovery after events tied to Moore, Oklahoma tornadoes and improved regional transit planning linked to projects on the Cox Convention Center corridor and downtown redevelopment initiatives with partners such as Bricktown stakeholders. Controversies have arisen around prioritization of highway expansions versus transit investments similar to debates in regions affected by the Big Dig and local disputes over annexation practices like those litigated in other Midwestern regions. Debates have also involved allocation of federal grant funds and coordination tensions between larger cities such as Oklahoma City and smaller member towns, reflecting dynamics seen in intergovernmental relations documented by the National League of Cities.
Category:Organizations based in Oklahoma Category:Regional planning organizations in the United States