Jobs Bill Passes Senate Committee with Key Protections for Space

Mar 19, 2010

For Immediate Release                                                          
March 18, 2010                                                                    

The Florida Senate Policy and Steering Committee on Ways and Means today voted 22-2 to pass the Jobs for Florida package, a bill that contains important provisions to protect the space industry in the state, including funding for workforce training programs and Space Florida as well as economic assistance for two new launch service providers at Kennedy Space Center. Senate President-Designate Mike Haridopolos (R-Merritt Island) worked closely with the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Don Gaetz (R-Niceville), and the committee’s chairman, Sen. J.D. Alexander (R-Lake Wales), to protect vital Space Coast jobs by ensuring that the space provisions were included in the bill.

“With time running out on the shuttle’s retirement and the lack of support for our space program from President Obama, today’s vote was a significant and needed commitment by the state to support space and our highly skilled workforce at the Kennedy Space Center,” Haridopolos said.

The package contains $3.2 million in state funding for workforce retraining for those in danger of losing their jobs upon the shuttle’s retirement. It provides $10 million in financing assistance for two new launch service providers as well as a new payload preparation company at Kennedy Space Center. Also included is a provision that will grant Space Florida needed flexibility to use $10.8 million remaining from a 2008 appropriation, originally allocated for the redevelopment of Launch Complex 36. The remaining funds will be used to continue to increase KSC’s viability as a home for commercial space.

“Senator Altman and I remain committed to protecting existing space jobs and to attracting companies that can create new ones by making the Space Coast the premier destination for commercial space flight. We hope to see the same commitment from the president when he visits our state next month for his space summit,” Haridopolos added.

Haridopolos and Altman are also working to secure an additional $12.6 million for infrastructure projects in the Senate’s Transportation and Economic Development budget, including $7.5 million for road construction at Exploration Park. The construction is part of an agreement between Space Florida and a private developer who has committed $98 million for construction of facilities at Exploration Park. The project is expected to create 1,725 new, permanent jobs at KSC.

The Jobs for Florida package could be heard by the full Senate as early as next week.

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