Formed in 1964, OKI has spent 50 years cultivating partnerships and alliances that range from the federal government to local councils. Its 118 members represent governmental, social and civic groups from nearly 200 communities in the eight-county, three-state region. OKI works collaboratively with stakeholders to solve interstate dilemmas, create far-reaching development plans, break through political bureaucracy, provide services to the public and advocate for federal funding. OKI has final authority over all federal dollars spent on surface transportation in the region. Each year, OKI approves roughly $40 million in funding for projects in the region. A Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is a federally mandated and federally funded transportation policy-making organization in the United States that is made up of representatives from local government and governmental transportation authorities. A Council of Governments (COG) is an association that consists of elected public officials who come from the major local governments within an urban or metropolitan area. Their purpose is to establish a consensus about the needs of an area and the actions needed to solve local and interlocal problems.