Data shows long-term, positive impacts of ARPA programming

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The difficult economic climate created by the COVID-19 pandemic called for sustained, strategic recovery programs. The federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provided the funding and framework for such programs, emphasizing support for those most deeply impacted—minority-owned businesses and folks transitioning into a new sector of the workforce. ARPA funding was due to be spent or returned by December 2024, and as auditors and researchers have now had the time to thoroughly examine outcomes, it is clear that ARPA played a major role in our community’s economic stability through those difficult years.

The Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City was awarded the contract to distribute ARPA funding through various programs and organizations with the potential to make the greatest impact. Out of $20 million in funding, $12.8M was distributed directly to local and small businesses and nonprofits, $3.2M supported workforce growth and training, and $4M was designated for minority-owned small businesses. The funds were distributed through three types of programs: 1) direct payout, where qualifying projects were directly reimbursed, 2) training programs intended to create a more resilient workforce, and 3) accelerators that offered a combination of training and grant funding to grow small businesses or launch innovative ideas.

In total, Alliance managed programs impacted 837 businesses across Oklahoma City, with 82% of those being minority-owned. These programs created more than 265 permanent jobs, 82% of those new hires were OKC residents. Over 600 individuals received direct training for further career development, impacting mostly minority individuals. Those who underwent training saw a 13% increase in their income on average. Perhaps the greatest outcome was the self-reported 88% rate of satisfaction among participants. It is an honor to have left so many people across our community feeling better about their economic futures and resiliency.

Our success metrics included a macroeconomic evaluation of OKC, pre- and post-pandemic, compared to peer cities, and the trends uncovered were positive. Compared to cities like Indianapolis, IN, Tulsa, OK, Fort Collins, CO, Omaha, NE, and others, workforce participation and the number of small businesses operating here grew. Given that the emphasis of ARPA-funded, Alliance-managed programming was squarely on small business success and workforce development, these strategic investments were certainly applied to the right causes.

The diversity of programming and those impacted was an undertaking that required broad community support, and it is among the proudest chapters of our organization’s history. OKC has always been resilient and highly motivated to succeed. ARPA programming was simply an opportunity for the people here to do what they do best—rise to the occasion and support their neighbors.

Kenton Tsoodle is the president of The Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City.