Florida is a manufacturing powerhouse, and the Space Coast is the center of it all. A standout in manufacturing growth, the Space Coast saw robust growth in the manufacturing sector, a trend which differs from both Florida and the nation. Although manufacturing jobs have been declining nationally since at least 2000, manufacturing on Florida’s Space Coast continues to take off. Since 2001, manufacturing jobs in Brevard County have increased 19% compared to a decrease of 28% nationally. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Brevard County, Florida earned its name “The Space Coast” through decades of history-making pioneers and the workforce behind their legacy. Home to the world-famous Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida’s Space Coast has grown from a launching ground to the mecca of the nation’s aerospace and aviation industry. Legacy powerhouses such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin both house headquarter offices on the northside of the Space Coast, while Collins Aerospace, Leonardo DRS, Northrop Grumman Corporation and Embraer hold major centers in the south. Technology pioneers such as Blue Origin, SpaceX and OneWeb Satellites are also laying claim to the new future of space, right from the same launchpads of the Apollo era. The area’s largest employer in the industry, L3Harris, holds it main headquarters in the heart of the Space Coast in Melbourne, Florida.