Investment
Impact
There’s a renewed sense of adventure these days along Florida’s Space
Coast. Less than four years after the last U.S. Space Shuttle lew sparking
fears that workforce reductions would send Brevard County’s highly
talented aerospace talent pool elsewhere; new investment is injecting
excitement into the air.
Northrup Grumman announced it would bring 1,500
jobs and “America’s most innovative design center
for military aircraft” to Melbourne when it won a
$50 billion contract to build the next generation of
long-range stealth bombers.
The expansion is estimated to have a $300 million
impact on the region.
After a $4.4 billion acquisition in February of defense contractor Exelis Inc.,
Harris announced plans to consolidate the companies, headquarters and
senior management teams. Fears rose that Exelis’ Washington, D.C., home
could lure the defense giant.
But in July, Harris said Melbourne would remain home … where it had been
since 1978, sustaining its 6,000 Florida employees (including 3,200 engineers
and scientists) and keeping its $1 billion research and development activity
at the new Harris Technology Center in Palm Bay.
Then in September, Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos announced he would
bring a rocket factory and private launch company with hundreds of jobs
to Titusville. Blue Origin announced it would build and launch from the
Space Coast after winning a national competition pitting Florida against at
least 10 states.
Coupled with increased launch activities by United Space Alliance and
SpaceX, the Space Coast is humming with tech activity.
florida.HIGH.TECH 2016
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