LAWTON – When Lawton was founded in 1901, its founders had a vision for prosperity and faith in each other, said Mayor Stan Booker.
“This faith led them to bravely seize opportunity,” he said. “They followed their best light, demonstrating their commitment to each other and their love for their new community.”
Booker spoke about the city’s history and its opportunities for future growth during this year’s State of the City Address, which took place Friday at the Hilton Garden Inn. The Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce, which organizes a monthly lunch meeting on various topics, hosted the event.
The Lawton city charter requires the mayor to provide an annual overview of the city’s progress at a time and place of their choice. Mayors typically deliver the address during a Lawton City Council meeting as well as during the Chamber’s monthly lunch meeting.
This year was different, because Booker speech during the Chamber lunch was the only one open to the public. The address was moved to the lunch hour in hopes of opening it to more people.
Building on a vision
Booker talked about the ways in which Lawton is making its founders’ vision for the future a reality. For instance, he said the Lawton City Council recently approved an incentive package that could bring approximately 2,300 industrial jobs to the city.
“Obviously, these jobs will bring growth to Lawton Fort Sill and to southwest Oklahoma,” he said. “This is how communities grow, by creating jobs.”
Booker was apparently referring to the council’s Aug. 23 decision to approve basic terms for the “Blue Braveheart” economic development project, which is designed to bring a new company to town. Officials said at the time that the company asked them not to disclose additional details of the project, including the company’s name and the type of industry.
Project terms included providing a $10 million forgivable loan to the company if it meets certain benchmarks. The money will be placed in escrow until the company secures $126 million in development financing from other sources.\
The company is expected to invest about $200 million in its Lawton plant and generate 2,335 new jobs.
Booker said the company’s arrival, which could encourage satellite businesses to set up shop in the same area, will be a game-changer for Lawton.
“To be sure, much work is still to be done,” he said. “But the community needs to understand the collaboration and coordination that put us in the lead position among other competing cities. With the Lawton Economic Development Corporation in the lead, Comanche County Industrial Development Authority, Lawton Economic Development Authority and City of Lawton City Council providing the needed support, the collaboration has made the needed incentives possible.”
Booker said the LEDC is working on finalizing other deals with companies interested in coming to Lawton. He added that the LEDC struck a tentative deal Thursday with a small manufacturer who could bring 70 more jobs to the community.
“The details have to be worked out, but you can rest assured that your community leaders are working together, led by LEDC, to get this and other deals across the finish line,” Booker said.
Economic development
Booker also touched on Lawton’s economic development project, including the Fires Innovation Science and Technology Accelerator in Central Plaza. The FISTA Development Trust Authority is currently converting part of Central Plaza into a hub for defense contractors who can support the U.S. Army’s modernization efforts.
FISTA, which began two years ago, is aggressively lining up contractors to occupy the FISTA Innovation Park at Central Plaza, Booker said.
“Dynetics’ CEMA (Cyber and Electromagnetic Activities) program is the first program in the FISTA,” he said. “This cutting-edge cyber program will help define the value of the FISTA.”
Booker said high-tech jobs normally come in smaller numbers, but they have a major impact on the community.
“For one thing, they provide STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) jobs for our kids to grow into – ensuring that our kids can get a quality education and a quality job right here in Lawton Fort Sill,” he said.