Request for Proposals

The deadline for receiving the Initiative for the Future of Rural Oklahoma project proposals was June 30, 2002.  Thirty-seven Oklahoma counties submitted project proposals.   Thirteen projects, involving seventeen counties, were selected for funding.  Ten projects were funded to develop one-year leadership programs.  Three projects were funded as three-year projects.  Counties awarded three year projects already had well established leadership programs and/or identified specific economic development projects. 

The ten projects receiving funds for one year were initially encouraged to apply for continued funding on a competitive basis, for a period up to two additional years, after completing the initial leadership objectives and identifying longer run community development projects.  The overall objectives of the Initiative program have not changed, however, given the critical budget situation, requests for second and third year proposals are being delayed until the budget situation improves. 

2002 Request for Proposals