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Council approves contract with FISTA-led VISTA innovation hub after presentation on jobs and grants
Summary
The council approved an agreement with the FISTA/VISTA innovation hub after a presentation that said the facility has attracted $98 million in investment, more than $45 million in grants and about 165 jobs on site.
The City Council voted to approve an agreement with the Fort Sill Innovation, Science and Technology Accelerator (FISTA) to support the operation and management of VISTA, a defense innovation hub located in Lawton near Fort Sill. The council vote followed a multi-slide presentation laying out VISTA's facilities, partner roster and local economic impacts.
Presentation highlights FISTA representatives told the council VISTA has attracted roughly $98 million in physical investment since inception, including $17 million from the city; reported $45 million in grant awards to date; and said the facility supports about 165 active on‑site jobs with an estimated $19 million in annual payroll. Presenters said annual economic impact from payroll is typically estimated at 2–3 times payroll, producing an annual regional impact the presentation estimated between $38 million and $57 million.
Planned and ongoing projects at VISTA include a STEM lab (27,000 sq. ft.) that the presenter said would open October 1, anechoic chambers and secure administrative space (SCIF/secure administrative space) funded by grants, conference-center upgrades, light manufacturing space, and a partnership that could bring large‑scale advanced manufacturing on nearby acreage.
Council action Councilmember George Gill moved to approve the agreement; Councilmember Randy Warren seconded. The council recorded the roll call vote with the motion carrying (6–0) as Councilmember Hampton had stepped out during the vote. The approved agreement was described by staff as contingent upon FISTA’s Trust Authority approval of funding the facility operations for FY2026.
Why it matters: presenters said VISTA links defense contractors, academia and government partners and is intended as a permanent economic development engine for the Lawton–Fort Sill region. VISTA leaders also described a newly formed FISTA Foundation (a 501(c)(3)) that has raised nearly $500,000 for scholarships and STEM programming.
Ending: Council approval allows the city to finalize the funding agreement with FISTA/VISTA and continue partnership work on anechoic chambers, the STEM lab and other facility expansions described in the presentation.
