| 18 March 2010
(March 18, 2010) TALLAHASSEE, FL – The Florida House of Representatives today unanimously passed House Bill 969 by Representative Steve Crisafulli (R – Merritt Island), giving Space Florida flexibility in spending funds already appropriated to the agency for Launch Complex 36 at the 45th Space Wing in Cape Canaveral.
“Giving Space Florida greater flexibility with money they already have will allow the agency to more aggressively work to attract commercial space business to our state. This legislation means jobs for Floridians,” Representative Crisafulli stated.
“Economic development has always been my top priority as a legislator, and I believe that space can still be a key component of Florida’s economy,” Representative Crisafulli continued. “Space Florida can now utilize $10 million of unobligated dollars for space infrastructure improvements and other ventures to help strengthen and promote the commercial space industry in our state,” he explained.
In 2008, the Legislature appropriated $14.5 million to Space Florida for Launch Complex 36 in an effort to attract new commercial space business to the state. Space Florida has spent about $4.5 million of the money. However, due to the agency’s lack of a master plan, the Legislature’s Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) recommended Space Florida not be allowed to use the remaining funding until it had a sufficient master plan in place. Now that the agency has developed such a plan, the Legislature has decided to unfreeze the funding. Senator Thad Altman (R – Viera) is sponsoring this legislation in the Florida Senate.
(Link to original press release below)
| File | Description | File size | Last Modified |
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 3_18_10 Crisafulli NR.pdf | 349 Kb | 18/03/10 15:36 |
