ALTUS AFB-CITY OF ALTUS IR GRANT

The City of Altus is well known for its extensive support of Altus AFB. In fact, the Altus Trophy, presented to the outstanding base in the Air Education and Training Command, is inspired by their many years of close partnership. 

In 2024 the City was awarded a grant through the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC) Installation Readiness (IR) program. The purpose of the study funded by this grant was to examine the condition of community energy, water, and wastewater infrastructure in relation to the readiness of Altus AFB to conduct their important aviation training missions. In addition, the grant funded an effort to address a workforce housing shortage caused by competition from students at Altus AFB with the City’s population and the civilian contractor workforce supporting Altus AFB. 

The City advertised for project and grant management support and selected the SONRI Team to lead the effort. The SONRI Team worked with City staff to prepare and advertise a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Study Contractor and provided analysis of RFP responses to support the City’s contracting decision. The SONRI Team then provided subject matter expert input in the infrastructure study and performed all tasks for the housing deliverable. More specifically, the SONRI Team:

• Supported grant budget and activity monitoring and reporting, including providing the use of SONRI’s MIRR Grant Cost Tracking and Reporting Tool © SONRI, Inc., All Rights Reserved;
• Provided subject matter expert inputs into the Altus Air Force Base Resilience Report;
• Worked with the City Project Manager to provide oversight and quality assurance/quality control services in managing the contracting team hired to conduct the study;
• Studied the nexus between student housing demand, base workforce needs, and community development;
• Issued a Request for Information seeking interest from the extended-stay lodging industry in developing long-term student housing; and
• Supported the City in negotiations with an extended-stay lodging developer.

The Altus AFB Resilience Report identified a need to develop a redundant energy supply for the readiness of Altus AFB, which would also provide energy assurance for the Community. The Study Contractor also provided conceptual design for an electric intertie that would enable the City and base to support each other in times of need. The City is now pursuing a new OLDCC IR grant to fund design of a 40MW gas turbine generator on City land adjacent to the Base. The City is also nearing the close of negotiations with an extended-stay lodging developer to construct a facility on City-owned land just outside the Altus AFB main gate. The SONRI Team is proud of our role this project!