Cannon manufacturer, test site are ‘a big deal' in Elgin
Cannon manufacturer, test site are ‘a big deal' in Elgin

By Jennifer Palmer Comments 2
Published: August 26, 2008

ELGIN — The first business at Elgin's Fort Sill Industrial Park opened its doors Monday, bringing jobs and opportunity to this city with a population under 1,500 in southwest Oklahoma.

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AT A GLANCE

•What: 100 jobs created by opening of a BAE Systems facility.

•Where: Fort Sill Industrial Park in Elgin.

•How to apply: Visit www.baesystems.jobs.

BAE Systems, a Maryland-based global defense company, will occupy a 10,000-square-foot building in the new industrial park. BAE Systems will focus on production of the Army's Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon vehicles and eventually provide about 100 jobs.

Elgin Mayor Larry Thoma said the new facility is a "big deal” for Elgin and has been in the making for about 10 years. "A lot of people put their heart and soul into this project,” he said.

Operations center coming

BAE Systems also plans to build a 150,000-square-foot operations center to anchor the Fort Sill Industrial Park; completion is planned for 2009. Thoma said he hopes BAE's presence will draw other military-related companies to the area.

The project is BAE Systems' first venture into Oklahoma. The company employs 100,000 people worldwide, and its sales in 2007 exceeded $31.4 billion.

The two Elgin facilities will be the final assembly and test site for the Non-Line-of-Sight Cannons before they are delivered to the Army. Upgrades to the Army's Paladin Integrated Management program also will be completed there.

Location is key

Elgin was an ideal location for the industrial park because it has direct interstate and railroad access, and is adjacent to the live range at Fort Sill, said U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa, who was present for the opening ceremony Monday morning.

"We're looking for more great things to happen in Elgin,” he said.

Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, who also spoke at the ceremony, said she was especially proud of the partnerships created to bring BAE Systems to southwestern Oklahoma.