Lawton City Council voted unanimously this week to spend $2.2 million on 440 acres in the Southwest Oklahoma Rail Industrial Park, land that would go to a Fortune 200 defense contractor identified only as“Project Firework.”According to LEDA executive director Richard Rogalski, the company wants 320 of those acres, brings 30 to 40 jobs with a $3-4 million annual payroll, and plans a $19.5 million capital investment. Lawton competed against three other states and came out on top.
The wrinkle is timing. LEDA says the deal must close by October 31 or the project goes elsewhere. FISTA will repay LEDA $1.6 million for the 320-acre tract within five years and retain ownership while the company leases the land. Mayor Stan Booker and council members Allan Hampton and Bob Weger were among those backing the move, and Rogalski put the odds of closing at better than 99 percent.
For a community anchored by Fort Sill, defense investment is familiar territory, and the jobs would be welcome. Still, a $2.2 million public commitment to a nameless company on a two-week clock is the kind of decision that deserves a second look. What would you want to know before the ink dries?
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Local Lawton
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