Lawton - Fort Sill Economic Development Corporation

PROJECT PURPOSE

Lawton is experiencing a high demand from major manufacturers to locate in the Lawton Industrial Park due to Lawton?s attractive location, proximity to Fort Sill, availability of labor, and its very high-quality workforce training support in the area. However, until utilities are improved and expanded at the industrial park, the needs of those manufacturers and large employers cannot be met. There are over 1000 acres of developable area, 235 of which are adjacent to the Stillwater Central Railroad, as shown on the attached map. The lands are jointly owned by LEDC and the Comanche County Industrial Development Authority (CCIDA), who are cooperatively developing the industrial park in the public?s best interest. The needed improvements are detailed in the attached report prepared by Garver Engineering, but generally include increased water, wastewater, and natural gas systems, with water and wastewater being the greatest need, and is the focus of this application. CCIDA will apply separately for the natural gas system improvements.

EVIDENCE

In April of 2020, Garver Engineering completed the Lawton Industrial Park Infrastructure Master Plan, commissioned by the LEDC. Recommendations for this project were made in that report. The report is attached to this application.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

This investment will affect the entire region, including historically underserved indigenous populations, and a total population of about 310,000, 32% of which is non-white, and historically underserved. These populations have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic across the United States, including this economic region of benefit of eight counties that rely on the City of Lawton Fort Sill as its economic epicenter. According to the 2019 Stats America data the poverty rate across the region is around 18%, 6.5% higher than the average U.S. rate. Additionally, the regional unemployment rate ranges from 4.5% to 9%, considerably higher on average than the U.S. unemployment rate of 3.5%. This investment will provide resilience via unique benefits to the region that are currently unavailable, particularly by creating opportunities for the regional workforce to enter newly created, good-paying jobs. It is anticipated that many of the locating manufacturers will be in the aerospace and defense sectors due to proximity to Fort Sill and recent concentrated efforts by a coalition of economic and workforce development groups. Aerospace and defense average annual wages in the region are about $63,000, over 20% higher than the region?s average per capita income (BEA) of $43,300.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

This project can be measured by the number of good-paying, permanent jobs that locating manufacturers will bring to the region. The types of jobs anticipated will pay higher than current average regional wages and will be represented through corresponding economic growth in non-industrial sectors. The required programmatic data are already tracked and reported by the LEDC and incorporated into planning and economic reporting.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

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