08/28/2026
The Shawnee Readiness Center represents a major investment for the Shawnee community!
"The City of Shawnee is celebrating a major investment in the community’s future following the groundbreaking of the new Oklahoma Military Department Shawnee Readiness Center.
City leaders joined state, military and community partners for the groundbreaking, marking the start of a project that had been more than 15 years in the making. The approximately 47,000-square-foot facility will be located west of the runway at Shawnee Regional Airport and is expected to be completed within 18 months.
“This was a big day for Shawnee and a major investment in our community’s future,” said City Manager Mark Simpson. “This project had been a long time coming, and we were proud to see it move forward. We appreciated the state, federal, military, construction and community partners who helped make it happen.”
Once complete, the Shawnee Readiness Center will provide a modern training and emergency management facility for the Oklahoma Army National Guard, with classrooms, offices, training areas, storage and a multi-purpose Drill Hall capable of accommodating up to 500 people. Designed to serve the Guard and community for decades, the facility will feature energy-efficient systems, solar power and backup power capabilities, along with Native American art and cultural elements developed in collaboration with local tribal communities.
“This project reflects the dedication and commitment of both the City of Shawnee and the Oklahoma National Guard to seeing this vision become a reality,” said Jared Cooper, Oklahoma Commerce Director of Rural Services. “Oklahoma is proud to be a hub for national defense, and projects like this strengthen the infrastructure and capabilities that support our military and our communities. Aerospace and defense is Oklahoma’s second-largest and fastest-growing industry, and we look forward to the lasting impact this project will have on Shawnee and the region.”
For more information, contact the City Manager’s Office at (405) 878-1601."