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Economic Development

Opportunity Area #24: Invest in Infrastructure Supportive of Future Economic Growth Needs

Opportunity Area #24 – Invest in Infrastructure Supportive of Future Economic Growth

Beginning in 2016, OKI has included economic vitality as a criterion in the federal transportation funding prioritization process scoring. The criterion provides proposed projects up to 10 points (out of 110) in the process based on the number of employees working within the vicinity of the proposed project, number of jobs created if a project is serving new or expanding employers, or the amount of new private investment being made as a result of the new transportation project.

Since 2020, OKI has funded $28 million in transportation projects that make use of innovative technology, greatly bolstering the economic vitality of our region. 

Policy Recommendations

24.A Provide support to and partner with transit authorities to expand service to underserved population and job centers across the region.

24.B Maintain and expand all infrastructure including utilties, roadways, bridges, sewer, water, and fiber to serve planned economic development sites across the region.

24.C Enhance access and capacity to reliable, economical, and sustainable sources of energy; including electric vehicle charging infrastructure.