Lawton-Fort Sill Economic Development Corporation

The 2025 Select Oklahoma Day at the Capitol and Gavel Ceremony was a valuable opportunity for Lawton Economic Development Corporation to engage with legislators and discuss policies impacting economic development across the state. #thelawtonadvantage #selectoklahoma

As #NationalCareerTechMonth comes to a close this week, we wanted to take a moment to share how Oklahoma CareerTech is creating career pathways for students across the state. Check out this article on career-readiness education, growing the workforce, AI and several other topics. https://lnkd.in/gQzYw-zc

?? Attention Lawton Businesses! The Oklahoma Innovation Expansion Program (OIEP) is back with $15 million in funding to support local businesses looking to expand, innovate, and create jobs. This program offers monthly cash payment awards to help offset capital investment costs, making it easier to grow and diversify your business. ? Lower the cost of expansion ? Improve return on investment ? Increase project scope ? Enhance financing opportunities ?? Application period: March 31 – April 11, 2025 ?? Administered by: Oklahoma Department of Commerce & Oklahoma Development Finance Authority. Don’t miss this opportunity to invest in your company’s future! Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/gv2xaiSu #LawtonBusiness #EconomicGrowth #OIEP #OKInnovation #thelawtonadvantage

Westwin Elements is leading a groundbreaking project in Oklahoma to build America's first integrated nickel refinery. After producing its first batch of nickel powder in December, the company is now preparing to break ground on a full commercial plant this year, projected to produce 64,000 tons of nickel annually. This project is about more than just refining nickel," says KaLeigh Long, Westwin Elements's CEO, "It’s about securing our nation’s resources, strengthening our economy, and leading the way in responsible mineral production. This venture supports national security, environmental stewardship, and economic growth, she says, with big plans for job creation and innovation. #Innovation #Oklahoma #Manufacturing #CriticalMinerals

Repost from Cameron University: Georgetown University Center on Education and Workforce data shows Oklahoma state educational institutions generate an average return on investment of nearly $870,000 per graduate over a career lifetime. #OKHigherEdWorks #thelawtonadvantage

Westwin Elements is solving America’s critical minerals crisis—a crisis of foreign dependency, ESG violations, and forecasted global deficits. With no commercial nickel refining capacity currently in the U.S., the nation relies almost entirely on imports. Developing domestic refining capabilities is essential to reducing reliance on Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) supply chains and securing a localized, sustainable future. By establishing U.S.-based nickel refining, Westwin is not only strengthening national security but also mitigating ESG violations in the global critical mineral supply chain. We are committed to ethical sourcing, traceability, and equitable profit distribution across all stakeholders. A limited opportunity remains for individual accredited investors to participate before we transition to commercial funding. Watch our new introduction video to learn more about our mission and the future of nickel refining. #WestwinElements #NickelRefining #CriticalMinerals

"America’s New Nickel Frontier" Westwin Elements is leading the charge in securing America’s critical minerals future! A huge thank you to Nathan Hammer for highlighting our mission to build the first major nickel refinery in the U.S., right here in Oklahoma. From our first nickel powder milestone to our upcoming commercial plant groundbreaking, we’re making history in the domestic supply chain. ?? Strengthening national security ?? Reducing foreign dependency ?? Driving economic growth Read the full article by following the link below! https://lnkd.in/geNugAjj #WestwinElements #NickelRefinery #MadeInAmerica #CriticalMinerals #NationalSecurity #EnergyTransition

Lawton EDC partnered with fellow economic developers from across the state, Select Oklahoma, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, and Oklahoma Business Roundtable Inc to host Dallas area site selectors and share about opportunities in Oklahoma and the Lawton area. #selectoklahoma #thelawtonadvantage #economicdevelopment

In 2024, Lawton Fort Sill saw a boom in businesses coming to town. From the Westwin Elements Cobalt Refinery to FISTA and Fisher59, 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.” Watch KSWO TV: https://lnkd.in/gMn99R3e Read the full transcript here: https://lnkd.in/g28yjM7r

As we plan for 2025 we look forward to many more opportunities to work with and support our community partners, like the Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce. #thelawtonadvantage #partnership