Lawton, Oklahoma

LAWTON, OKLAHOMA where you know you are; to heights you never thought you could achieve,” says Lawton Mayor Stan Booker. The City of Lawton has tapped into its strong relationships with Fort Sill, the Great Plains Technology Center, and Cameron University in its creation of the FISTA, which will be managed by a newly formed trust authority and targets taking advantage of local opportunities for investment in industrial development and high tech job creation. Fort Sill is the home of the U.S. Army’s Field Artillery School and the Fires Center of Excellence (FCoE). Within FCoE are two of the Army’s eight Cross-Functional Teams (CFTs) – Long Range Precision Fires (LRPF) and Air Missile Defense (AMD). The Army Futures Command, which is headquartered in Austin, Texas, challenged its CFTs, as well as their communities and academic institutions for technical training and higher education, to sponsor and grow research and development Other major employers in the area include Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Lawton Public Schools, Comanche County Memorial Hospital, Southwestern Hospital, Republic Paper, Silverline Plastics, Bar-S Foods, Cameron University, and Great Plains Technology Center, as well as the City of Lawton. With Western influence, Native American roots and a large population of veterans and military dependents, the community is uniquely diverse. It is considered the “Hub of Southwest Oklahoma” and community leaders share a common goal in creating leadership and opportunity for the region. That common goal has led to several milestone achievements this year, to include the passing of a 14-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) in February and the recent implementation of the FISTA (Fires Innovation Science and Technology Accelerator) program, both of which will benefit the Lawton community for years to come. “A good long-term plan is a road map to get you