Great Plains expands building for corporate training

Lawton is growing into a city where job opportunities are increasing for everyone. Great Plains Technology Center (GPTC) plans to improve its facilities to better accommodate that demand.

GPTC is expanding its Economic Development building to include corporate training. Superintendent Clarence Fortney said they plan to expand training for industry partners such as Goodyear and Bar-S.

“I think we’ve got input from all the individuals that could participate or would move in this area,” Fortney said. “I think it’ll meet their immediate needs. It’s got all the shop space adjusted or increased to size that we need to be able to facilitate and provide the instruction and training.”

Training offered by the facility includes industrial maintenance, soft skills training, small business development, farm/ag business training, forklift safety, first aid and CPR, Fortney said. This training will help students earn different certifications.

The expansion will consist of 5,200 square feet of new material, with 22,400 square feet being renovated, updated or modified, Fortney said. Additions to be included are shops, classroom spaces, office spaces, restrooms and a hardened room. Overhead doors will be included for classes such as welding.

The downside is the cost.

“They’re estimating over $400 a square foot,” Fortney said. “When we did our cafeteria, it was about $250 a square foot. So cost is almost double. That’s where we’re at right now is trying to look at cost. We’re still trying to figure out, funding wise, where it’s going to come from.”

Fortney said he doesn’t know when the project will be done. The plan has been in the works for only 10 months, but as of now, it’s still in the planning phase.