FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Sarah Levanti
(321) 634-4730
SLevanti@SpaceCoastEDC.org

EDC awarded $584,000 by Gov. DeSantis
to support Space Coast military community and installations

Space Coast, FLA (June 13, 2023) – The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast (EDC) has been awarded $584,000 through the Defense Infrastructure Grant  ($500,000) and  Defense Reinvestment Grant  ($84,000) Programs by Governor Ron DeSantis to enhance advocacy and support of Space Coast military installations. 

The DIG award will fund the facilitation of a study on the growing demand for natural gas infrastructure at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport. This project is intended to identify the future need and develop a long-term master plan for supplying Liquefied natural gas (LNG) in a safe, effective, cost-saving manner to launch pads to support future Department of Defense, NASA, and commercial missions. LNG is the fuel of most next-generation launch vehicles.

In addition, the DRG grant award will further support the EDC’s military advocacy program, Space Coast Salutes, and additional military installation programs and initiatives. 

In a release from Florida State Governor Ron DeSantis regarding the defense grant projects, the Governor stated, “I am proud to continue making investments that strengthen Florida’s military communities and support our military families. With these grant awards, we are upholding our commitments to military and veteran families and supporting the critical missions of our state’s military installations.”

Space Coast military installations have a total economic impact of over $2.4 billion. Most recently, the EDC joined in the announcement that The Department of the Air Force selected Patrick Space Force Base as the preferred location to host the Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) Headquarters, along with Space Delta 10. 

“The Space Coast continues our legacy of strong military advocacy and support,”  said Lynda L. Weatherman, President and CEO of the EDC. “The EDC is proud to drive positive impact for our military installations and their personnel, building on the strong foundation which led to the recent announcement of Patrick Space Force Base as the preferred location of STARCOM and the Space Coast’s designation as a 2022 Great American Defense Community by the Association of Defense Communities.”

The Defense Infrastructure Grant Program supports local infrastructure projects deemed to have an impact on the military value of installations within the state. Projects funded under this program include transportation, utilities, housing, security and projects that protect military installations from encroachment. The Defense Reinvestment Grant Program supports community-based activities that protect existing military installations. These grants are awarded to economic development organizations that represent a local government with a military installation that could be adversely affected by federal actions.

For more information on Military Community programs, please visit FloridaJobs.org/Military-Community-Programs and to learn more about the EDC’s Military Advocacy Program, Space Coast Salutes, visit www.SpaceCoastSalutes.com 

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About the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast

The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast (EDC) is dedicated to attracting new business and investment and expanding existing industry throughout the Space Coast, influencing change on government laws and regulations affecting economic development, promoting the Space Coast to encourage new investment, supporting efforts of Space Coast military installations, and relaying new programs and procedures to assist manufacturing and high-tech companies. The EDC is a private, not-for-profit coalition whose stakeholders are business leaders committed to the economic growth and stability of Florida’s Space Coast. Visit www.SpaceCoastEDC.org.