‘This state is primed for success.’ Local and state officials preview 2025 economic development plan

January 15, 2025

By Mark Lowe

https://www.kswo.com/2025/01/16/this-state-is-primed-success-local-state-officials-preview-2025-economic-development-plan/

LAWTON, Okla. (KSWO) - In 2024, Lawton Fort Sill saw a boom in businesses coming to town. From the Westwin Cobalt Refinery to FISTA and Fisher 59, it seemed everywhere you turned there was something new.

Brad Cooksey with Lawton / Fort Sill Economic Development Corporation says the process of bringing in these businesses takes years, and while he can’t go into specifics at what this year holds, he hopes it’s going to be one for the books.

“A lot of these projects that we work on when we create a new business are years in the making.” Cooksey stated. There’s so many things that go into economic development and things that are essential that just don’t happen overnight. So it takes time. Hopefully some of those will come to fruition here in 2025.”

The growth isn’t just here either.

State-wide, the focus of the State Chamber of Commerce has been growth but this year, they’re having to adjust to meet a new need.

“The State has lacked I think a clear economic development plan, a clear strategy of where we’re going.” explained CEO of the Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce Chad Warmington. “What are the industries we want to recruit? What are the industries we want to grow? And really how do we match the developmental work-force to meet that plan?”

Trying to match workers to new jobs is becoming one of the new challenges the state is facing with it’s growth.

Cooksey states continuing to push the community to grow is just one of their jobs.

“When I say we’re doing our job, I mean we’re helping our current employers grow.” Cooksey added. “What I mean by that is several of our employers have had expansions over the last couple of years so that brings in more jobs. It’s a trickle-down effect. When you bring in more jobs, it’s just more people to fill those jobs who are going to spend money within the community to help our stores and restaurants grow.”

But in some cases, like the State, those jobs aren’t getting filled.

Locals are taking jobs in other states due to a variety of other factors, whether location, taxes, salary, education the list goes on.

Warmington says the good part about that is, other states are also dealing with the same thing and Oklahoma should capitalize by making their current openings competitive.

“It’s no different than any other state struggling with the same thing because we have all these different entities that we really need to work together and we got to fight to keep them working together.” voiced Warmington. “Again that’s what work force commission should be working on is coordinating that, get them working together. If we can do that, this state is primed for success.”

Both Warmington and Cooksey agree they’re excited to see where 2025 will take the state.

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