How to expand space business in Florida
Florida continues to expand the business of space. Building upon our heritage, the space industry and Florida are evolving to meet new competitive challenges.
All Floridians should be proud to know space operations and facility upgrades continue to progress at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. These initiatives include establishing commercial operations in suborbital and low-Earth orbits, as well as developing national deep space human exploration capabilities involving Orion and NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS).
Growth in the space business arena impacts all of Florida, not just the Space Coast. Today over 140,000 Floridians are employed by more than 19,000 aerospace companies generating in excess of $18 billion in annual sales and revenues. All 67 counties contribute to this multi-billion dollar industry. The aerospace product and parts manufacturing sector is the largest manufacturing segment in Florida with an average wage of $77,343.
Florida’s future looks bright. Private companies are launching cargo to the International Space Station and preparing to fly American astronauts from American soil in the next few years, eliminating America’s dependence on foreign nations for space access and demonstrating – once again – we are the preeminent space faring nation in the world.
We also are developing new spacecraft and rockets – more capable and powerful than those used to put humans on the moon – pushing the frontiers of human spaceflight exploration forward to Mars and beyond.
During Florida Space Day on February 3, industry leaders and other aerospace supporters will meet with Florida legislators and executive branch officials. We will discuss the state’s space industry and effective strategies for leveraging economic development policies to attract more private sector investment and jobs, and effectively meet competitive challenges from other states in the years ahead.
Gov. Scott, working with his allies in the legislature, has done an extraordinary job of winning jobs and capital investment from aerospace throughout the state of Florida. Other states, including Texas, Georgia, California and Colorado, compete vigorously for high-tech, high-wage aerospace business and leverage the economic development tools at their disposal to combat Florida’s efforts to bring those jobs to the Sunshine state.
We must continue to innovate and position Florida to compete and win in this arena.
Florida’s aerospace industry supports both the legislative initiatives and priorities of Enterprise Florida and Space Florida. These major organizations have driven the state’s success in competing for aerospace sector jobs.
Specifically, we support the following legislative actions:
•Reauthorization of the Qualified Defense and Space Contractor tax incentive program
•Permanent elimination of the sales tax on manufacturing machinery and equipment
•Creation of a Florida Enterprise Fund, with one-time funding of $250 million to replace the Quick Action Closing Fund
•$10 million for Space Florida business development and operations, and $7 million in aerospace financing funds
Clearly, space exploration is critical to Florida’s identity and future. Florida is poised to exceed the competitive challenges of this new space era with a high-tech ready workforce, innovative use of existing space infrastructure, a robust educational system, pro-job creation business environment and unmatched quality of life.
With the help of the state Florida leadership and legislature, we will create additional high-tech/high-pay jobs, scientific discoveries, business opportunities, and support educational excellence in science, technology, engineering and math.
Mr. Tony Taliancich is Director of East Coast Launch Operations for United Launch Alliance (ULA) and the chair of Florida Space Day 2016.
Learn more
To learn more about Florida Space Day 2016, visit:
•Facebook.com/FloridaSpaceDay
•Twitter at @FLSpaceDay