The Community & Economic Development Division works with towns and counties across our eight-county region,
Caddo, Comanche, Cotton, Grady, Jefferson, McClain, Stephens, and Tillman, to build stronger, more sustainable
communities. Our work falls into three main areas: community planning and technical assistance, economic
development, and the Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP). Funding for the Division comes from the federal
government, the Oklahoma Legislature, voluntary contributions from local governments, and contract work we perform
for local partners.
Community Planning
Every community needs a few things to grow: dependable drinking water, sewer systems that can handle age and heavy
rain, safe roads, and the kind of character that keeps residents around while drawing in new families and businesses.
Without that foundation, growth doesn’t happen. That’s where our planning and technical assistance work comes in.
Each year we host two free regional workshops that bring together funding partners like the Oklahoma Water Resources
Board, the Oklahoma Rural Water Association, the Southern Oklahoma Regional Transportation Planning Organization
(SORTPO), Indian Health Services, and the Department of Environmental Quality. These sessions give local leaders a
practical path toward grants and financing and connect them with the regional expertise they need to move projects
forward.
Communities that apply for REAP funding are required to adopt a five-year strategic plan ranking their infrastructure
priorities. For communities that need a deeper look, we help develop Capital Improvement Plans through the CDBG
program, which involve a full inventory and condition assessment of local infrastructure. That inventory gives towns a
clear picture of what they have, what shape it’s in, and what needs attention first, which makes it a lot easier to secure
funding and keep long-term projects on schedule.
Beyond infrastructure, our Community Planning staff also assist with codebook updates, grant and loan applications, and
general program administration for a wide range of local needs.
Economic Development
Our economic development work is built around one goal: creating jobs and strengthening local economies across the
region. ASCOG got its start as an Economic Development District, and that mission still drives the work today, from
industrial park development and business financing packages to business planning and revolving loan funds that expand
access to capital for local entrepreneurs.
With support from Economic Development Administration planning grants, we’re also developing a Comprehensive
Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the region. Like our local planning work, the CEDS pulls together data and
community input to map out economic strengths, challenges, and opportunities across all eight counties. It helps us
identify industries that fit the region, strengthen workforce development through education partnerships, and prioritize
infrastructure investments that support both current businesses and future growth. Tying local goals to state and federal
resources means every community in the region benefits from a coordinated plan instead of working in isolation.
Staff also work in areas like downtown revitalization and stay current on nearly every state and federal program
available to local governments and businesses in southwest Oklahoma.
Building Regional Capacity
A lot of our work is about helping communities put themselves in a position to attract investment and create jobs. For
many towns, that starts with practical steps like extending water and sewer lines or reviewing utility rate structures to make sure they’re financially sustainable. Working alongside partners like the Oklahoma Rural Water Association, we’ve
helped several communities adjust their rates to keep infrastructure funded and support future growth.
On a broader scale, ASCOG is involved in Forward 45, a 20-year regional transportation plan developed with SORTPO
that covers 16 counties across southwest Oklahoma and looks ahead to 2045. The plan is built to keep the region
competitive as it grows and to prepare for the infrastructure demands of an expanding population and evolving industries
like agriculture, energy, and defense.
We also continue our long-standing partnership with Cameron University’s Center for Emerging Technology and
Entrepreneurial Studies (CETES), which serves as a business incubator and regional hub for technology and
entrepreneurship, giving startups in southwest Oklahoma a place to grow.
Why ASCOG
Most towns in our region operate with minimal staff, often just a town clerk, and few have the time or expertise to
research funding, write detailed plans, or manage a major infrastructure project on top of everything else. That’s the gap
ASCOG fills. Using state-appropriated funding, our staff work directly with local officials to identify needs, evaluate
funding options, and build practical plans for projects that small communities couldn’t take on alone.
Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP)
REAP is administered through the CED Division and funds local infrastructure and economic development projects
through a competitive application process. Eligible applicants include cities, towns, county districts, and county
conservation districts with a population under 7,000. Applications are accepted each year by September 30th. Below is our REAP Application, instruction for the grant, as well as additional documents you will need if awarded.
Additional Documents
REAP Request-for-Payment Form
REAP Closeout Form
REAP Deobligation Form
REAP Quarterly Report Form
REAP Inventory Tracking Form
Questions?
Reach out to our CED staff any time.
Ron Peel, peel_ro@ascog.org, (580) 736-7024
Sherri Bonds, bond_sh@ascog.org, (580) 736-7971
Riley Cronin, cron_ri@ascog.org, (580) 736-7984