Lawton economic-development office reports surge in manufacturing leads; Firehawk project to receive $22 million in state support

Brad, a representative of the Lawton Economic Development Corporation, told the Lawton City Council the agency handled 50 economic-development projects between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, and that manufacturing continues to drive the pipeline.

The LEDC presentation said 41 of the 50 projects were manufacturing-related, and the office has tracked roughly 250 business leads during the last four to five years. Brad said the LEDC recorded nine site visits in the previous year — an indicator, he told the council, that companies were seriously considering Lawton for new investment.

Brad said Firehawk Aerospace, the largest pick announced in the report, had $22 million in state support: about $18 million designated as part of a public-private partnership and roughly $4 million still being secured within state channels. He said the first tranche of state funding is expected in October and that Firehawk would create “over 100 jobs.”

The LEDC representative described several other active projects cited in the report: “Project Pony,” an estimated $33 million capital investment that could create as many as 300 jobs; “Project Elevate,” a project the presentation listed at $400 million of capital investment and about 45 direct jobs; “Project Coco,” which the report listed at about $800 million and more than 200 jobs; and “Project Thesis,” with a $30 million investment and 355 jobs. Brad also described competing data-center inquiries that together could total “over $4 billion” in potential capital investment and roughly 400 jobs, and a solar project led by EDF Renewables that had acquired “hundreds of acres” of school land commission property.

Brad framed the LEDC’s work as a long sales process that benefits from land and infrastructure the city has placed in readiness. He said the office’s five-year targets were exceeded, with social-media reach and website traffic cited as supplemental evidence of outreach success.

Council members and the mayor asked a handful of clarifying questions during the presentation. A council member noted the lead totals had been smaller than some prior years; Brad said the shift in the national policy environment and a stronger domestic industrial focus explained some variation in lead counts and timing.

The LEDC report will be filed with the city clerk and posted to the city website, the presenter said. The report did not propose or request immediate council action beyond receiving the annual report.

Ending: The LEDC presentation painted a picture of sustained industrial recruitment activity in Lawton, with Firehawk Aerospace highlighted as a near-term project expected to bring state funding and new jobs. The council did not take an action tied to the projects beyond accepting the report.