SWOK ARPA Regional Alliance - LEDC-Gas Line

PROJECT PURPOSE

The SWOK ARPA Regional Alliance has identified the LEDC-Gas Line project as a roadblock to creating jobs in our community. The OK SW Rail Industrial Park also known as the Westside Industrial Park located in Lawton, Oklahoma has over 1,000 acres of greenfield land with railroad access and excess capacity of large volume utilities with the exception of natural gas. A natural gas line extension is needed to bring additional natural gas to the industrial park. This will open up opportunities to expand Industries and supplying current industries that do not have adequate gas.

EVIDENCE

Many people in our area were affected by COVID-19 and while we came together as a community to make it through that difficult time, there is still work to be done in order to provide quality jobs for Lawton area citizens. An engineering study was accomplished to identify deterrents to jobs. This engineering study provided the evidence that validates the necessity of the additional natural gas needed to attract businesses the largest industrial park in southwest Oklahoma.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Because Lawton is the County seat for Comanche County, not only Lawton residents but all County residents and many, many surrounding counties look to Lawton to provide quality primary jobs. The largest employer in Lawton is Goodyear Tire & Rubber with 2,800 employees; their employees are from 17 different counties in our area. Because the Oklahoma SW Rail Industrial Park is the third largest industrial park in the state of Oklahoma, adding new jobs to this industrial park would benefit the entire state of Oklahoma.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

It is the practice of Lawton-Fort Sill Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) to clearly define the project, identify steps to be accomplished, set a timeline for each step to ensure the project is measured. A project manager is assigned to the endeavor to be responsible for collecting the required programmatic data in an effort to meet all goals timely.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma