VOLUSIA COUNTY ’ S LEADERSHIP TRAJECTORY
by Frank DiBello Space Florida President & CEO
For much of the history of the U . S . Space Program , Volusia County has had a front-row seat . But it always seemed more of a spectator than ‘ a player .’ Granted , a great many shuttle workers at the Cape lived here , but the economic benefits of that significant federal investment only trickled north . But today the U . S . Space Program is much more about the emergence of the commercial space marketplace than one with the federal government as its only customer . That transformation is rich with promise , not only for the nation , but for Volusia County as well .
This market is growing rapidly with the only variable being the speed at which it does so . The expansion of human activity into space is both inevitable and an imperative . As Americans , we are driven to explore for both science and profit . But we are not alone in this pursuit . Russia has been up there longer than we . China , with all its talent and resources , is making a major move and already is doing things we have not . India is in orbit around Mars and the UAE has a spacecraft on its way there now . The U . S . cannot afford to cede the high ground for national security purposes , and we will not abandon the field and let other nations make the rules and set the standards in an environment where the resources and energy are limitless . Future generations expect no less of us .
How will Volusia County compete now ? With geography , opportunity and leadership .
The Cape and its economic activity have grown considerably in Brevard County . There is still room , but more will be needed as the Cape Canaveral Spaceport evolves into a primary port of departure and entry for human activity in space over the next decades . That growth must be managed with the appropriate protections for the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge and the Canaveral National Seashore . Our efforts to explore new frontiers does not exempt us from our stewardship responsibilities right here where we live . Those environmental treasures will become ever more important in assuring the quality of life so essential to attracting and retaining the young skilled talent that will drive this new marketplace well into the future .
With the intriguing potential future of human enterprise in Low Earth Orbit , then CisLunar , then Mars and beyond , Volusia County is on the logical path for smart economic development which most communities can only dream of . The geography has been there , the opportunity is beginning to unfold before us . What is needed now to seal the deal for the next generation , is the right leadership .
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