December 2025

Greetings,

I am pleased to present the year-in-review edition of the Grants Management Newsletter, highlighting the continued progress of the ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (ARPA-SLFRF) projects.

In 2025, project momentum continued to accelerate. At this time last year, disbursements to agencies totaled approximately $798 million. Today, agencies have received more than $1.25 billion in ARPA-SLFRF funding. With nearly 250 working days remaining in the performance period, most projects are complete or nearing completion, but important work remains as we continue our ARPA-SLFRF journey.

It was also around this time last year that the OMES Grants Management Office (GMO) welcomed new team members, including Grants Analyst Robin Frank. Reflecting on her first year with OMES GMO, Robin shared the following observations on the program’s impact:

“Working on SLFRF projects has profoundly affected me,” she said. “I have witnessed firsthand how these efforts benefit communities across Oklahoma – both rural and urban. From children accessing new opportunities and families obtaining reliable internet, to medical facilities and workforce training programs strengthening entire communities, I am genuinely grateful to be part of an initiative that has such a lasting impact on the citizens of Oklahoma.”

Robin’s gratitude is shared by me and the entire GMO team. We are proud of the accomplishments achieved through the collective efforts of our partner agencies and the strong collaboration that has defined this program. As we close out the year, we are pleased to spotlight your agencies’ milestones and achievements from 2025 in the Year in review section below.

Looking ahead to 2026, I would like to remind agencies that the Q4 reporting deadline is at the end of January. Additional correspondence outlining reporting requirements will be distributed by our team shortly.

As always, it is a privilege to work alongside each of you. I look forward to what we will continue to accomplish together in the year ahead. Should you have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me or a member of the GMO team.

Sincerely,

Parker Wise
Director of OMES Grants Management Office

Grants management metrics

Note: These metrics reflect data as of Dec. 2. Please visit the ARPA-SLFRF Program Tracker for the most up-to-date information.

$1.19 billion, or 63.6%, of total funds disbursed.
$67.3 million disbursed in November 2025.
27 initiatives fully disbursed to date.
$78 million disbursed in Q3.

Guidance updates

Federal guidance

Good news! The U.S. Department of the Treasury released the official 2025 OMB Compliance Supplement for 2 CFR Part 200.

Every year, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) revises the Compliance Supplement, which outlines auditors' responsibilities regarding federal program audits. The Compliance Supplement is a document that identifies existing compliance requirements that the federal government expects to be considered as part of an audit required by the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996.

Without the supplement, auditors would need to research many laws and regulations for each program under audit to determine which compliance requirements are important to the federal government and could have both a direct and material effect on a program. Publishing the supplement is a more efficient and cost-effective approach to performing this research.

The supplement provides information for auditors to understand federal program objectives as well as procedures and requirements subject to the audit, and it is an excellent resource to use when assessing the management of your program.

We encourage you to review the complete 2025 Compliance Supplement as well as the OMB website, which will link you to a specific federal agency's sections (e.g., U.S. Dept. of Treasury).

Guidance for the SLFRF program is located on Pages 58-82 of the 2025 OMB Compliance Supplement.

Access the 2025 Compliance Supplement

State guidance

During performance of the ARPA-SLFRF award, a need for clarity about the program or federal financial assistance may arise. OMES GMO is here to help.

If you would like our team to submit an inquiry for additional guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury or if you have questions concerning your program, please complete this ARPA-SLFRF Guidance Request form.

Request guidance

Training

Year in review

In 2025, subrecipients across the state celebrated milestones for projects that will impact the lives of Oklahomans from all 77 counties. We've prepared a brief recap of all the action from this year below:

Stephenson Cancer Center Tulsa

In November, the University Hospitals Authority and Trust (UHAT) and the University of Oklahoma (OU) invited officials to celebrate the groundbreaking ceremony of the OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center in Tulsa.

Once completed, the center will expand access to quality cancer treatment and prevention for Oklahomans in the northeastern corner of the state.

Manufacturing Skills Academy

In October, state leaders, manufacturing students and supporters joined staff to celebrate the Manufacturing Skills Academy’s grand opening in Oklahoma City.

As one of nine SLFRF projects managed by the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST), this first-of-its-kind program aims to help fill a growing workforce gap by blending technical instruction with work-based learning and real job opportunities.

Special Care Inc.

In July, families, supporters and local leaders gathered to break ground on a 30,000-square-foot expansion of Special Care’s Oklahoma City campus.

This transformative project will enable the organization to serve 200 additional children through new classrooms, a life-skills development area, and a state-of-the-art autism clinic and therapy suite. These improvements have expanded access to year-round, specialized services for children with disabilities and developmental delays.

JD McCarty Center Applied Behvaior Analysis Clinic

In July, our partners at the JD McCarty Center (JDMC) celebrated a milestone with the grand opening of the Applied Behavior Analysis Clinic in Norman.

This initiative expands access to specialized care for children with autism by increasing the capacity of the center, enabling JDMC to provide additional outpatient services to those in need.

Ronald McDonald House

In April, OSDH invited officials to celebrate the ceremonial groundbreaking of the second Ronald McDonald House in Oklahoma City.

This expansion will significantly increase RMHC-OKC’s capacity to serve families whose children are battling serious illnesses or injuries, reinforcing a vital support network that spans the state.

Oklahoma Arts Council Grants

The Oklahoma Arts Council celebrated Oklahoma Arts and Culture Day at the State Capitol Building in April. This annual event is part of a statewide arts advocacy initiative. Industry partners, nonprofits, legislators and arts supporters alike gathered to celebrate the funding for arts and culture programs across Oklahoma.

Port of Inola

The Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) is addressing critical wastewater infrastructure in northeast Oklahoma through the Inola Wastewater Modernization and Upgrade project.

The project is slated to provide a modern and sustainable wastewater treatment system for the Tulsa metro area that ensures enough capacity for adequate and resilient service for current residents and the area’s potential growth.

Nursing simulation lab

In February, Metro Technology Centers, in partnership with the Oklahoma Health Care Workforce Training Commission (HWTC), unveiled its new state-of-the-art nursing simulation lab.

Designed to enhance hands-on learning, the lab will allow nursing and health care programs to expand enrollment and equip students with cutting-edge technology, better preparing them for careers in the field.

Hearts for Hearing expansion

In January, our partners at the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) celebrated the groundbreaking of the Hearts for Hearing expansion. The project serves to expand access to sound and hearing care for Oklahomans affected by deafness or hearing loss.

This expansion will add 30,800 square feet to effectively serve the needs of Oklahomans from all 77 counties.

Oklahoma City Innovation District

In January, OCAST celebrated the grand opening of the Oklahoma City Innovation District (OKCID).

OKCID aims to revitalize Oklahoma City’s entrepreneurial landscape, fostering job growth and a more inclusive economy. The district is intended to be a central hub of industry that creates innovative solutions through research, technology, energy, health care, biomanufacturing and aerospace.

OMES celebrates the holidays by paying it forward

This month, Grants Analyst Robin Frank spearheaded our office's charitable giving campaign in celebration of the holiday season.

In collaboration with the other OMES divisions, our team donated winter clothes, toys and baskets filled with gifts for parents as part of the YMCA Toy Drive, and it was a smashing success!

Shoutout to GMO staff for helping spread joy this season!

Robin Frank (right) stands with Santa in front of YMCA donations.

Resources

Select the icon to access the Subrecipient guidance webpage.

Select the icon to visit the Grants Management Newsletter Archive.

Select the icon to open the ARPA-SLFRF Program Tracker dashboard.

Collaboration corner

Updates to 2 CFR Part 300

In November, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released updates to its adoption of federal grant regulations in the Uniform Guidance for 2 CFR Part 300.

These changes may impact a few subrecipients, specifically those in the health and human services space. For those who work with HHS, an overview of updates to Part 300 is included below.

As noted in the Federal Register last year (89 FR 80055), HHS continues its phased transition away from 45 CFR Part 75 toward the government-wide Uniform Guidance. As of October 2025, HHS has fully adopted 2 CFR Part 200 in place of Part 75.

HHS-specific modifications and additions to the Uniform Guidance include:

Funded research: updated conflict of interest requirements − § 300.112.
For-profit entities − § 300.218.
National policy requirements − § 300.300.
HHS grants and states' cash management − § 300.305.
Intangible property and funded inventions in educational purposes grants − § 300.315.
Allocating costs among independent and sponsored research − § 300.477.
Costs for research and development in hospital grants – Appendix IX to Part 300.

Subrecipient spotlight

OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center Tulsa rendering. Image courtesy of OU Health.

This month, we are highlighting our partners at the University Hospitals Authority and Trust (UHAT) for their efforts to build a stronger statewide infrastructure for cancer care and better outcomes for patients across Oklahoma.

A new state-of-the-art facility at the University of Oklahoma (OU) – Tulsa campus will soon expand access to advanced, research-driven cancer care and clinical trials for patients across northeastern Oklahoma, bringing life-saving treatment closer to home and strengthening prevention and early detection efforts in a region heavily impacted by cancer.

On Nov. 13, state leaders, health care professionals and community members gathered for the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Tulsa facility, an expansion of OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center in Oklahoma City. The expansion is funded in part by a $20 million investment from the Oklahoma Legislature through ARPA-SLFRF.

OMES GMO commends UHAT and its partners for their continued efforts in driving unparalleled access to care and innovation for residents of northeastern Oklahoma.

In the news

Last Modified on Dec 31, 2025