Lawton, Oklahoma

LAWTON, OKLAHOMA investment in STEM education. In 2017, Lawton voters passed a $99.5 million school bond; a portion of dollars to be allocated to instructional and student technology, as well as specific programming for students. As economic development and education pursuits flourish, City leadership has simultaneously worked to address quality of life issues to make the Lawton community more appealing to incomers and visitors. Downtown revitalization began several years ago. “These efforts have included a 54-acre public/private partnership redevelopment project, and more than 220 acres of mixed-use overlay zoning,” Cleghorn reports. “More recently, the City Council approved a lease agreement with the Lawton Farmers Market Institute for a $2 million Farmers Market facility in our downtown area. We’ve also initiated a rebranding effort in our downtown area called the Ware District, named after Major General Henry Ware Lawton, the City’s namesake.” City Manager, Michael Cleghorn