From Our Government Affairs Team
Stitt to Open a D.C. Office
Gov. Kevin Stitt plans to open a field office in Washington, D.C. with a staff member to represent Oklahoma's interests at our nation’s capital.
In interviews with multiple media outlets, Stitt spokeswoman Donelle Harder cited several reasons for the move, including the need for better coordination between state and federal government and having someone on the ground to promote the Governor's agenda in D.C.
According to
The Oklahoman
, "Planning for the position has progressed to the point that office space and potential candidates for the position have been identified." Harder also told The Oklahoman that they hope "to have interviews done and have this completed by the end of the year."
U.S. Department of Commerce Announces Availability of $587 Million to Aid Communities Impacted by Natural Disasters
This week, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) has published the Fiscal Year 2019 (FY2019) Disaster Supplemental Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) making $587 million available to eligible grantees in communities impacted by Presidentially declared natural disasters in 2018, and floods and tornadoes in 2019.
EDA disaster grants are made by its
Regional Offices
under the agency’s
Economic Adjustment Assistance
(EAA) Program, which enables EDA to make awards that support a wide range of construction and non-construction activities in areas which experience sudden and prolonged severe economic dislocation. The submission of applications should be based on long-term, regionally-oriented, and collaborative development strategies that foster economic growth and resilience.
Eligible applicants under the EAA program include a(n): (i) District Organization of an EDA-designated Economic Development District (EDD); (ii) Indian Tribe or a consortium of Indian Tribes; (iii) state, county, city, or other political subdivision of a state, including a special purpose unit of a State or local government engaged in economic or infrastructure development activities, or a consortium of political subdivisions; (iv) institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education; or (v) public or private non-profit organization or association acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a state. EDA is not authorized to provide EAA grants to individuals or for‑profit entities.
Five Oklahoma Higher Education Institutions Awarded State Opioid Response Grants
Five Oklahoma colleges and universities and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE) are the recipients of a $250,000 State Opioid Response – Higher Education Community Outreach Grant from the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) for 2019-2020. OSRHE will serve as the grant administrator.
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, Northern Oklahoma College, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma State University, and the University of Oklahoma will each receive a share of the grant money, which will fund campus efforts to prevent opioid misuse and provide referral services for those needing treatment.
“We appreciate this funding opportunity provided by our partners at the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services,” said Chancellor Glen D. Johnson. “The collaboration of state system campuses, the State Regents, and ODMHSAS facilitated through this grant will provide these institutions with the resources they need to expand opioid misuse and overdose education efforts in their service areas across the state.”
Campuses will provide outreach, engagement, and evidence-based prevention services, including health education, promotion, and community consultation. Efforts will focus on the general student population, as well as students at risk for opioid misuse, opioid disorder, and opioid overdose. Institutions will also develop and maintain online resources for opioid abuse prevention and treatment, including materials from the ODMHSAS Prescription for Change campaign.
Additionally, grant funds will be used to support training for faculty, staff, and students in the prevention and treatment of opioid misuse and overdose, including naloxone administration, access to treatment services, how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose, and safe storage and disposal of opioids.
Peer health educators will provide campus-based student training on opioid misuse and prevention. Tribal connections are also a part of the institutions’ plans to utilize and extend access to community resources.
More SALT, Please
This year, the State Chamber of Oklahoma pushed hard to help pass
House Bill 2665
, which allows Oklahoma businesses to continue deducting state and local taxes from federal taxes.
The legislation, known as the SALT Parity Fix, was signed into law by Gov. Kevin Stitt and restores the SALT deduction allowing Oklahoma businesses to compete more effectively at no cost to our state.
According to an official from the Oklahoma Tax Commission, over 8,900 entities made the election by the June 28 deadline. Getting their full deduction on taxes paid means they can continue to save in taxes so they can invest and continue to grow our economy.
From Our Friends at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Minimum Wage, Drug Price Controls, and More...
Before the House and Senate went out of session for the long August recess, lawmakers took action on five major issues of importance to the business community. Our friends at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce gave us five legislative updates below that you need to know.