THIS IS WHAT BEDC, CAMERON COUNTY, TEXAS ARE UP AGAINST

(Despite the heroic blunderings and missteps taken by the State of Texas, Cameron County, the City of Brownsville, and the BEDC, it's hard to imagine that SpaceX can turn down the structured, aggressive approach that the State of Florida has undertaken to compete for the firm to go there to launch its commercial satellites. South Texas has already been beaten out in the bidding war, and the scientific difficulties in launching from Boca Chica Beach with its fragile ecology and endangered plant and animal species make it difficult to imagine it will end up here. Below is the Florida approach to attracting space-related industry. Compare it to ours.)

From Space Florida
Webpage
Space Florida is an Independent Special District of the State of Florida, created by Chapter 331, Part II, Florida Statutes, for the purposes of fostering the growth and development of a sustainable and world-leading space industry in Florida.

As the State of Florida’s aerospace economic development agency, Space Florida fosters bold economic development activities to expand and diversify domestic and international opportunities that support talent development, enhance infrastructure and support governments and organizations in improving the state’s competitive business climate. Space Florida does this by supporting, assisting, facilitating and/or consulting on space industry related needs for:

Attracting, retaining, and expanding aerospace or related supply chain businesses that create economic opportunities in the State of Florida by:

• Arranging financial incentives and providing start up and relocation support
• Providing financial and business consulting on business formation, relocation and venture development
• Providing resources, retraining and access to experienced professional workforce
• Development of targeted infrastructure and facilities
• Research and Development opportunities that enable target industry growth

Space Florida also develops, conducts, hosts and/or arranges educational services, summits, conferences and/or programs relating to space-based scientific research and economic opportunities and incentives for space-related business, as well as recommends future requirements for aerospace workforce training and related skills.

WHY FLORIDA?
If you seek to do business within the Aerospace Industry, Space Florida can facilitate your growth in (or relocation to) Florida. We are a State entity empowered with rights to provide:

• Special purpose financing opportunities
• A gateway to non-traditional capital markets
• Leverage to unique business expansion and establishment tools through statewide partnerships with entities such as Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), Workforce Florida, Visit Florida, and other economic development agencies
• Assistance with locating and applying for incentives to help your business succeed

In the "Fact Sheets" section, you will find an overview of existing incentive programs offered by the Governor's Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development (OTTED), available to help ease your expansion or move into our state. Space Florida has a statewide vision for Florida's Aerospace Industry, and utilizes strategic partnerships with various public and private sector organizations to help existing and prospective businesses find the right resources to enable robust solutions.

Through our relationships with private corporations like Astrotech, higher-learning institutions like the University of Florida's ASTREC small satellite project, and Eastern Range customer service programs like C.A.S.P.E.R. (just to name a few), Space Florida leverages a number of unique capabilities and partnerships to enhance the business environment for space-related companies in Florida.