Senator Jech Applauds Major Investments in Senate District 26

KINGFISHER – Sen. Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher, celebrated two major events in his district this week that included the opening of a new Oklahoma Highway Patrol headquarters in Clinton and continued investment in the future of space exploration in Burns Flat.

On Tuesday, Jech attended the grand opening of the Highway Patrol’s Troop H Headquarters in Clinton. The new 7,500-square-foot facility replaces the OHP’s former facility in Clinton, which the troop outgrew over time.

The new facility, located along Gary Boulevard and Route 66, is situated on land donated by the city of Clinton and was funded with a nearly $3 million appropriation from the state’s Oklahoma Capitol Improvement Authority Fund.

“Our roads are safer because of our Highway Patrol,” Jech said. “This new headquarters represents a small token of our appreciation for the sacrifices troopers make to keep Oklahomans safe. The new building includes modern facilities, expanded office space and a classroom that will help the Highway Patrol expand its ranks by training the next generation of troopers.”

Sen. Jech on Tuesday also spoke at a groundbreaking ceremony for a new mission control facility and spaceplane hangar at the Infinity One Oklahoma Spaceport in Burns Flat. The event signified that Oklahoma is now one step closer toward becoming a national hub for commercial spaceflight.

The Oklahoma Legislature appropriated $7.5 million for this project, which will include a 5,000-square-foot mission control and operations facility and a 10,000-square-foot hangar to accommodate Dawn Aerospace’s Aurora spaceplane. The new development will establish dedicated facilities for the company’s planned operations in western Oklahoma.

“The future of space travel is being developed right here in western Oklahoma,” Jech said. “Seeing Dawn Aerospace put down roots in Burns Flat is the beginning of a new era for our state and our region. Innovation in the aerospace sector and increased demand for commercial space travel are driving economic growth. This partnership with Dawn Aerospace will bring new jobs and new investment to rural Oklahoma.”

The new facility is scheduled to be finished by fall 2027.