LAWTON – The Lawton Economic Development Authority intends to play hardball with Westwin Elements.
LEDA voted unanimously Thursday to “take appropriate action to recover possession” of the company’s pilot nickel processing plant in Lawton, “enforce and collect amounts due” to LEDA, “and exercise such other rights and remedies as may be available” to the Authority.
On Dec. 12, 2023, LEDA lent Westwin $2.7 million in “development financing” to support construction of their pilot plant on 40 acres off Bishop Road near Southwest 112th Street, and LEDA leased that property to Westwin on Dec. 29, 2023.
The $2.7 million included $1 million from the City of Lawton and a $2 million loan to LEDA from the Comanche County Industrial Development Authority; however, $300,000 from the loan was held in reserve, according to Richard Rogalski, executive director of LEDA. Westwin also owes $400,000 for the land on which the pilot plant was built.
The company has been in default on its redevelopment agreement since June 1.
On Aug. 26, 2025, during a discussion involving Westwin, the City of Lawton, the CCIDA and LEDA, Westwin announced it would not proceed with development of a large-scale commercial refinery in Lawton.
That announcement was confirmed on Sept. 11, 2025, when Westwin delivered written notice of its decision. That notice included “an agreed framework for resolving remaining Pilot Facility matters,” including the $2.7 million repayment to LEDA and $400,000 to the CCIDA for the acreage.
A joint resolution embraced by LEDA on Dec. 18, 2025; by the CCIDA on Jan. 6, 2026; and by the Lawton City Council on Jan. 13, 2026, approved a Notice of Termination of the redevelopment agreement. That notice called for completion of the transactions listed in the Sept. 11, 2025, agreed framework “on or before May 31, 2026.”
That deadline passed with Westwin’s requirements unfulfilled. LEDA confirmed to Westwin in writing on June 2 that the ground lease expired by its terms on June 1, “and that all unpaid amounts were immediately due.”
The chief communications officer for Westwin Elements wrote in an email to Southwest Ledger that they submitted an offer April 21 to buy the pilot nickel processing plant in Lawton and the land on which it sits – “an offer that would fully satisfy the company’s obligations related to the project.”
On May 29 Westwin reaffirmed its offer and again requested a meeting “to discuss resolution of the matter,” wrote Marissa Espinosa, Westwin’s chief public affairs officer. “The company remains prepared to move forward and believes direct engagement is the most productive path to resolving outstanding issues.”
LEDA received an unsigned letter from Westwin, dated April 21, Rogalski confirmed. “However, it did not satisfy the conditions stated in the Jan. 13 letter.” It proposed instead “to restructure Westwin’s obligations over time and increase the debt to include the purchase of the Pilot Facility site.”