CERI | Association of Central Oklahoma Governments

Transforming Your Hometown

The Community Economic Resiliency Initiative (CERI) Program is designed to give cities in the Central Oklahoma region the opportunity to develop plans modeling strategic investment, sustainable economic recovery, and long-term resiliency. The CERI Program was originally created in 2021 by ACOG in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

ACOG originally partnered with the University of Oklahoma (OU) Institute for Quality Communities (IQC), an outreach arm of the Gibbs College of Architecture, to collaborate in shaping the program and to provide services to communities selected to participate in CERI.

2024-2025 CERI Program

ACOG designated a portion of the awarded 2023-2025 EDA Planning Grant to provide valuable planning services to the municipalities within our region. As a result, ACOG reserved $45,000 to fund two cities to take part in the 2024-2025 Community Economic Resiliency Initiative (CERI) Program.

The ACOG Board approved two (2) planning demo sites projects in the following communities:

2025-2026

Apply for CERI – Applications Due August 8, 2025

ACOG is offering funding for planning services from the University of Oklahoma’s Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) to support two cities in our region through 2025-2026.

POLICY & PROCEDURES

APPLY Access Code: CERI2025

RESOLUTION

Eligible communities must:

Be an ACOG board member in Canadian, Cleveland, Logan and Oklahoma Counties
Have a population of 63,000 or less (per the 2020 Census)
The actual funding amount allocated per municipality will be determined by the scale and complexity of the selected projects. Any municipality that wishes to take part in the CERI Program must contribute a 10% match, not to exceed $3,000 in local funding to obtain IQC’s valuable planning consultant services.

CERI Planning Demo Site Project Reports

CERI: Award Winning Program & Accomplishments

CERI Wins Impact Award

ACOG received the 2022 Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for the CERI Program.

NADO is a Washington, DC-based membership association of regional development organizations that promotes programs and policies that strengthen local governments, communities, and economies through regional cooperation, program delivery, and comprehensive strategies. The Impact Awards program recognizes regional development organizations and their partners for improving the economic and community competitiveness of our nation’s regions and local communities.

Tools CERI Planning Demo Site Cities Receive

At the end of their project, the CERI Planning Demo Site Cities are given a professionally developed road map that outlines the community’s vision and final recommendations garnered from their citizens. These recommendations are supported by community outreach, professional development and historical research, and suggested future grant funding opportunities that prepared these cities for the implementation phase.

Updated city planning techniques and best practices shared with each community.
Economic development and transportation safety research conducted on behalf of selected cities.
Urban design, streetscape, and development strategies created for each municipality.