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Cherokee Nation reports $32 million US DOT grant for US‑59 corridor; tribe to provide $5 million match
Summary
Michael Lynn told the Community Services Committee that Cherokee Nation received a $32,000,000 USDOT INFRA-like grant for the US‑59 corridor between Jay and Grove and will provide a $5,000,000 match, creating a roughly $37,000,000 project; the tribe is transferring funds to ODOT for construction letting.
Michael Lynn, director of the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, told the Cherokee Nation Community Services Committee that the tribe received a federal transportation grant for work on US‑59 between Jay and Grove. “There was a 32,000,000 grant that we received from the US Department of Transportation called INRFA,” Lynn said, and confirmed Cherokee Nation must provide a $5,000,000 match, making the tribe’s total investment about $37,000,000.
Lynn said the grant award was applied for in 2025 and that the funds were recently received in January; the tribe is working to transfer those dollars to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation for inclusion on ODOT’s construction letting and subsequent contracting. “So once those funds are transferred … it’ll go to contract and, hopefully get underway very soon,” Lynn said.
A councilor raised a procurement concern about Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) procedures on recent lettings, noting Cherokee contractors commonly bid on those projects. Lynn said he had not observed DBE requirements being removed and that he would look into the matter. The councilor’s question and Lynn’s reply were recorded as part of the exchange.
The committee heard the transportation update alongside other infrastructure items Lynn presented, including water-treatment plant upgrades, a Cherry Tree water‑tower rehabilitation, and a US‑62 sidewalk project scheduled to wrap up around mid‑April. Lynn did not provide a firm construction start date for the US‑59 corridor beyond the transfer-to-ODOT step; he described the transfer and ODOT’s letting as the next procedural milestones.
The committee took no formal vote specific to the US‑59 grant during this meeting. Members asked about contracting and DBE issues and requested additional follow-up from Lynn.
