Woodward County CAPS Committee Approves First Project Pledges and Opens Round 2 Applications

WOODWARD COUNTY, OKLA. — The Woodward County CAPS Committee met Monday evening, September 29, 2026 to review sales tax collections, consider the first applications submitted through the new CAPS program, discuss potential future projects, and officially open the second round of CAPS applications.

Sales Tax Collections Reviewed

While collections dedicated to CAPS do not officially begin until October, the committee reviewed preliminary sales tax figures showing what the four tenths sales tax has generated over the past month.

Beginning in December, three tenths of the sales tax will be directed to CAPS to support projects in the areas of Economic Development, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Public Safety. The remaining one tenth will be deposited into the County General Sales Tax Fund to help support expenses associated with operation of the Woodward County Jail.

David Floyd also reported that the CAPS Trust Authority has been adopted. The committee discussed the development of a Spending and Distribution Policy that will establish procedures and guidelines for the administration and distribution of CAPS funds.

CAPS to Support Woodward County REAP Applications

The CAPS Committee and Woodward County Board of County Commissioners approved a program to provide matching funds for eligible Woodward County REAP applications.

CAPS will pledge an 11 percent local match, up to $11,000 per eligible project, for qualifying Woodward County sponsored REAP applications.

Eligible applicants include communities with populations under 7,000, as well as qualifying rural fire departments and rural water districts. Providing a local match can strengthen REAP applications by increasing points during the competitive scoring process.

Organizations seeking the CAPS REAP match must submit their Woodward County Sponsored REAP application to the Board of County Commissioners by October 21 for consideration.

First CAPS Project Pledges Approved

Three applications were presented during the first CAPS application round.

Woodward Main Street

Woodward Main Street submitted a request for $142,363.41 from the Economic Development portion of CAPS for a proposed $284,762.82 downtown improvement project.

The project proposes rooftop lighting and a sound system along Main Street from 5th Street to 13th Street. Approximately half of the project would be funded through CAPS, with the remaining portion funded through a Main Street incentive grant.

A CAPS pledge was approved for the project contingent upon Woodward Main Street successfully receiving the incentive grant.

Woodward County EMS

Woodward County EMS requested $47,066.64 from Public Safety portion of CAPS to provide a 50 percent match for grant funding already awarded to the department.

The funding would support several improvements to emergency medical services, including modernization of the medical dispatch system, replacement of the power load cot system, and EMR, EMT, and medical director training.

A CAPS pledge was approved for the EMS project.

The approved Main Street and EMS pledges represent commitments of future CAPS funding. Actual CAPS funds for these projects will not become available until after December.

Town of Fort Supply

The Town of Fort Supply submitted a request for a $10,000 REAP match toward a $94,742 Town Hall improvement project.

Because the Board had already taken action to establish the countywide CAPS REAP matching program providing an 11 percent match up to $11,000, the Board elected to notify the Town of Fort Supply and provide the town an opportunity to revise its current CAPS application.

Future Project Ideas Discussed

The committee also discussed a number of potential projects that could be considered for CAPS funding in the future.

Ideas discussed included assistance with the spillway associated with the Lakeview Bridge replacement project, improvements to the Woodward Arts Theatre including HVAC, lighting and stage restrooms, development of a Main Street food and entertainment incubator, recreation improvements at Fort Supply Lake, preservation and potential reuse of the historic Federal Courthouse and Post Office building, park improvements in communities throughout Woodward County, and opportunities for expanded fiber infrastructure through Pioneer.

These items were presented as project ideas and concepts only. No CAPS funding was approved or committed to these projects during the meeting. Projects would be required to proceed through the appropriate CAPS application and review process before funding could be considered.

Round 2 Applications Now Open

The Board voted to officially open Round 2 of CAPS applications.

Round 2 applications are due November 18. Applications will be presented and reviewed at the November 23 CAPS meeting, with awards expected to be considered in December.

CAPS was approved by Woodward County voters as a dedicated investment in the future of the county. Funding is focused on projects that support Economic Development, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Public Safety.

The CAPS process is designed to provide opportunities for communities, public entities, and eligible organizations throughout Woodward County to bring forward projects that can leverage local dollars, outside grants, and partnerships to make investments that might otherwise be difficult to accomplish.