hile the rest of the country is experiencing the pain of the economic downturn, Oklahoma is weathering its impact better than most states and in Southwestern Oklahoma, Lawton Fort Sill is thriving. The Lawton Fort Sill economy is currently experiencing significant growth and will continue to expand for the next several years due, in large part, to the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) mandate from the Department of Defense.
      The BRAC process ordered the co-location of the Fort Bliss (TX) Air Defense Artillery (ADA) training school to be joined with the Fort Sill Field Artillery (FA) training school. The U.S. Department of the Army proudly refers to Fort Sill as the "Fires Center for Excellence." The stability and growth of the Lawton Fort Sill economy has much to do with the mission growth at Fort Sill. The ADA movement to Fort Sill is huge gain for the entire Lawton Fort Sill area.
      A recent Department of Defense impact study estimates by the year 2020, Comanche County, where Lawton and Fort Sill are located, will add 10,200 people over and above the increase in baseline population, including 2,600 direct military personnel  and 7,600 other new residents throughout the county. The BRAC movement also represents and impact of $4.4 billion in additional economic activity over the planning period, an average annual increase in wages and salaries of $58 million and a cumulative $940 million increase in retail spending.
      Fort Sill contributes to the Lawton Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) with a steady flow of highly skilled and thoroughly trained military veterans. Annually an estimated 1,100 people exit the military, either through retirement or service fulfillment, and choose to stay in the Lawton Fort Sill area.
      A growing community with a great workforce, Lawton Fort Sill receives recognition from national publications for our quality of life. Lawton Fort Sill has been recognized as the "best place to raise kids in Oklahoma" and one of the "best places to find a job in Oklahoma" plus titled the "Best City in Oklahoma 2009."
      In addition to being a great place to live and work, Lawton Fort Sill has two shovel ready industrial parks with ample acreage for businesses and industry that are looking for relocation or expansion. Goodyear Tire and Rubber, Bar S Foods, Silver Line Plastics and Republic Paperboard are a few of the outstanding companies that call Lawton Fort Sill home. Discover Lawton Fort Sill:  Exceptional quality of life; exceptional cost of living.