Autry Technology Center

PROJECT PURPOSE

The proposed project would build a 3-mile driving range and facility on Autry Technology Center property to provide driver training/testing opportunities for law enforcement, CDL drivers, firefighter/emergency services drivers, driver education, etc. for all of northwest Oklahoma as well as other parts of the state. Currently there is a lack of this type of facility in northwest Oklahoma. Enid Police Department has a state-of-the-art law enforcement training program to help meet the demand for quality police officers but lacks the ability to provide the driving portion of the training. They wish to partner with Autry to provide comprehensive law enforcement training. The driving facility would provide opportunities for training for the northwest quadrant of Oklahoma. Facilities are currently available in Ardmore and Oklahoma City but the distance from northwest Oklahoma makes driver training cost prohibitive (lodging, meals, time off work). Due to the lack of facilities in OK, there are limited training opportunities available. This driving range would provide more opportunities for training and testing and would be more economically feasible. This facility would also provide the opportunity for a partnership with the Department of Public Safety for CDL testing and driver license testing.

EVIDENCE

During the last few years, the COVID situation has had negative impact on workers in law enforcement and CDL trucking. A large number of law enforcement officers have either retired or sought other employment over the last few years. The trucking industry has experienced a need for drivers to meet the challenging logistics involved in delivering goods across the US. This driving range would enable an increase in the training opportunities available in NW Oklahoma for law enforcement, CDL drivers, as well as other driver training/testing opportunities.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

The law enforcement community and the trucking industry have been negatively impacted by COVID over the last couple of years which has caused a shortage of workers. In both industries their workforce has had a significant increase in the number of workers retiring or seeking other employment. The workforce shortage in these two critical industries is detrimental to NW Oklahoma communities as well as the state of Oklahoma. This project will enable training/testing for law enforcement and CDL drivers which will increase the workforce in these much-needed areas. Other opportunities exist for driver license testing, firefighter/emergency services training. Currently there is no such facility available in the NW quadrant of Oklahoma and this project will fill a much-needed gap.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

To measure project performance, the following measurements would be used: 1) number of students enrolled in driver training; 2) number of students completing driver training; 3) number of partnerships with law enforcement, industry, and state agencies to provide driver/testing services.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

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