(1) The Legislature finds and declares that the aerospace industry of this state is integral to the state’s long-term success in diversifying its economy and building a knowledge-based economy that is able to support the creation of high-value-added businesses and jobs. Further, under the direction of Space Florida, this state has the opportunity to strengthen its existing leadership in civil, commercial, and military aerospace activity and emerge as a leader in the nation’s new vision for space exploration and commercial aerospace opportunities, including the integration of space, aeronautics, and aviation technologies. As the leading location for talent, research, advanced technologies and systems development, launch, and other aerospace-based industry activities, this state can position itself for sustainable economic growth and prosperity.
(2) The Legislature finds that attaining this vision requires a strong public and private commitment to a world class aerospace industry. It is the intent of the Legislature that Space Florida will encourage the public and private sectors to work together to implement an aggressive strategy that enhances the state’s workforce, education, and research capabilities, with emphasis on mathematics, science, engineering, and related fields; will focus on the state’s economic development efforts in order to capture a larger share of activity in aerospace research, technology, production, and commercial operations, while maintaining the state’s historical leadership in space launch activities; and will preserve the unique national role served by the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and the John F. Kennedy Space Center by reducing costs and improving the regulatory flexibility for commercial sector launches while pursuing the development of complementary sites for commercial horizontal launches.
(3) It is the intent of the Legislature that aerospace activities be highly visible and well-coordinated within this state. To that end, it is the intent of the Legislature that Space Florida will be the single point of contact for state aerospace-related activities with federal agencies, the military, state agencies, businesses, and the private sector.
History.—s. 2, ch. 2006-60.