Owasso neighborhood program report highlights grants and volunteer response after tornado

Jerry Fowler presented the Owasso Strong Neighborhoods Initiative (OSNI) annual report to the council Wednesday, highlighting volunteer programs, outreach and a neighborhood grant program.

Fowler said the city now has more than 60 registered neighborhood associations and HOAs that together serve more than 10,800 people in households; nine of those associations, Fowler said, are outside the city limits but participate in OSNI programs. He told councilors that the OSNI network supports block parties, a neighborhood leadership conference and training, and a neighborhood grant program that issued 23 grants totaling $51,000 in the past year. Fowler said the program has issued 158 grants to date totaling $238,000 and that the neighborhood investments have spurred a larger total of improvements he described as a roughly $840,000 cumulative impact.

Fowler described volunteer efforts under branded programs such as Wausau Cares and Keep Owasso Clean: he said over the years the combined programs have drawn more than 53,300 volunteers (transcript figure) and recounted a recent tornado response that included about 223 volunteers clearing storm debris and removing roughly 36 tons of yard waste in neighborhoods affected by the April tornado; public works, he said, also removed several hundred tons of debris.

Fowler recognized neighborhood leaders and staff partners, introduced new neighborhood coordinator Ryan Miller and thanked department staff and volunteers. He said OSNI will continue neighborhood‑focused outreach in 2026 and invited councilors and residents to participate in neighborhood events.

Councilors thanked Fowler for the work and asked no substantive follow‑up questions during the presentation. Fowler said he would be available to answer questions and noted this was his final OSNI report to the council after 17 years of involvement.