Florida Adds Spaceport Territories Under New Law
Florida Adds Spaceport Territories Under New Law
Homestead Air Reserve Base and Tyndall Air Force Base Receive Designation
Two new Spaceport Territories have been established in Florida under Florida Senate Bill 986, which went into effect on July 1. The legislation added the designation to Homestead Air Reserve Base in south Florida, and Tyndall Air Force Base in the west-central portion of the panhandle.
"This legislative change, effective July 1, 2024, reflects our commitment to establishing Florida as the premier global and interplanetary capital for aerospace commerce."
Rob Long, Space Florida
A spaceport territory is an aerospace hub that creates an ecosystem for companies to be centralized in one area with access to resources, shared ideas, a talented workforce, premium locations, and capital. This designation enhances the use of the Space Florida toolkit, which includes the Florida Department of Transportation’s Spaceport Improvement Program, unlocking the ability for companies to access funding from this program for development and infrastructure improvements.
“Today marks a significant milestone for Florida’s aerospace industry as we officially welcome Tyndall Air Force Base and Homestead Air Reserve Base into Florida’s spaceport territories, said Rob Long, president and CEO of Space Florida, in a statement posted on the agency website. "This legislative change, effective July 1, 2024, reflects our commitment to establishing Florida as the premier global and interplanetary capital for aerospace commerce. Through investment into these strategic locations, we will continue to bolster the aerospace ecosystem across the entire state of Florida by bringing companies together and providing access to essential resources, shared knowledge, and innovative ideas. We are excited about the opportunities this designation will bring and look forward to the continued growth and success of Florida’s aerospace sector.”
Space Florida has tracked over $2.14 billion in private investment in spaceport infrastructure across 44 separate projects within the spaceport system since 2012. A recent 10-year analysis showed that Florida’s aerospace sector experienced a 41% increase in employment over the period.
Since 2007, Space Florida has been responsible for nearly 20% of the aerospace workforce across the state. The agency is projected to have a $1.1 billion annual economic impact over the next five years alone, an astonishing increase from the $5.5 billion impact over the last 15 years. Last year, Space Florida partners delivered approximately 2 million pounds from Cape Canaveral to space, a 66% increase over the previous year.