LAWTON - At the Monday, Sept. 16, Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce luncheon, members heard discussion concerning economic development needs and the importance of extending the CIP (Capital Improvement Plan).
LAWTON - At the Monday, Sept. 16, Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce luncheon, members heard discussion concerning economic development needs and the importance of extending the CIP (Capital Improvement Plan).
Keynote speaker Daniel Burrus, futurist and strategic advisor to several Fortune 500 companies as well as the Department of Defense, offered that by extending the current CIP, establishing a point of contact for defense contractors and repurposing the Fairmont Creamery, he believes Lawton-Fort Sill would see a major return on their investment
“What we’re trying to do, is to make sure that in January, (voters) extend that CIP, which does not raise taxes, but allows us the funding to take advantage of this huge opportunity and ensure that it grows here in Lawton and Fort Sill,” said Burrus.
“In 2020, the Army wants to spend $1.3 billion to improve howitzers and rocket launchers, develop new longer-range munitions and much more,” said Mike Brown, president, and CEO of Lawton based construction management company CDBL, Inc.
CROSS-FUNCTIONAL TEAMS
“It is projected that the Army is willing to spend up to $6 billion through the two CFTs (cross-functional teams) at Fort Sill,” he said.
Currently, there are eight CFTs in the world; two are based at Fort Sill: Long Range Precision Fires and Air and Missile Defense, Brown added.
“This money ($6 billion) is going to be spent somewhere,” said Burrus. “And because we have two of the eight cross-functional technology teams at Fort Sill, and more than 40 high-paying jobs already here, they are already looking at growing.”
Brown also reiterated the economic importance of the CFTs.
“Two years ago, the CFTs were in jeopardy” of being moved from Fort Sill, said Brown. “What do the CFTs’ mean economic influences impact for Fort Sill? What happens if they go away?”
Burrus stated that establishing a point of contact should be done “within a 30-day time period.” He believes it is vital to the economy because it opens lines of communication between contractors and community leaders.
He confirmed that smaller defense contractors are “already wanting to talk.”
FAIRMONT CREAMERY BUILDING
Along with Brown, Nate Slate, Howard Johnson Jr., and David Madigan spoke with LEDC (Lawton Economic Development Corporation) with hopes to create a facility for research and development and science and technology.
One option proposed by the committee would be to purchase and repurpose the iconic Fairmont Creamery building to be used as a (FISTA) Fires Innovation Science and Technology Accelerator.
Brown said he believes funding for the Fairmont Creamery renovations could be available through the City’s Economic Development budget and CCIDA (Comanche County Industrial Development Authority).
Nate Slate, director of Fires and Air and Missile Defense Development, said, “If we can’t grow our research and development and science and technology here, they will move to a place where they can.”
RECRUITING LAWTON- FORT SILL TENANTS
Within the next month, Brown, Slate, Johnson, and Madigan plan to visit other CFTs and analyze proposals from potential tenants for the innovation center.
“We have to learn to continually encourage all entities to locate at Lawton and Fort Sill,” said Brown.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN
“The CIP is key,” said Lawton Mayor Stan Booker. “Designating a quarter of a cent would make available $30 million over the next dozen years that could be used to help promote jobs in the community.”
We must “move forward and realize this is something we can do here,” concluded Burrus. “The cards are in our favor; we’ve just got to continue to be in the game.”