Florida Spaceport Awarded Grant + Six Space-Related Grants Available

There has always been a lot of discussion about space in the news and on social media. Dating back to 1957, when the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) launched Sputnik, the U.S. has been competing with other countries to see who can go further in space exploration.

The United States has its program, The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which has led to Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landing on the moon and much more. Now everyone seems to want to launch to Mars, and two U.S billionaires in particular and their space-related companies have been focused on accomplishing this feat. However, there is so much to encourage on this front. Young boys and girls should grow up excited about the world ahead. This means creating more research opportunities for students and professionals and finding funding for initiatives and projects that can change the world.

GrantWatch has a category dedicated to science grants on its site, as well as one for research and evaluation and one for technology.

Florida Governor Announces Grant for Cecil Spaceport

Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis has announced $13 million in grants to Cecil Spaceport in Jacksonville, Fla. Of these funds, $6 million will come from the Florida Job Growth Fund. Florida’s Department of Transportation will contribute $6 million, and Space Florida will contribute $3 million. This funding will support the construction of nearly two miles of roadway and extend corresponding utilities to underdeveloped owned by Spaceport.

“When we’re making infrastructure investments, we want projects that are going to have a big impact and make a difference for the community – that is why we chose this project,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said. “With this investment, they will be able to double the number of jobs available and the airport and Spaceport’s economic impact on the community. There are a lot of great opportunities ahead at Cecil, and I know it will continue to be an economic driver for Northeast Florida.”

The expansion will nearly double the number of jobs at the facility, up to 6,251 workers.

Here’s precisely what the $13 million in grant fund will go toward:

• Design and construction of a utility corridor and roadway project at Cecil Airport
• Expansion of existing maintenance facilities
• The expansion of the repair and overhaul facilities

And the development will help more than just Jacksonville’s Cecil Spaceport. It will also benefit multiple companies in the area and contribute to more job opportunities in the area. The project is expected to attract more aerospace and commercial space tenants.

Florida’s History with the Space Industry

It’s important to note that Florida as a state has the second-largest aerospace industry in the United States. A lot of major aerospace companies call Florida home. Palm Beach County alone features a space industry valued at more than $9.7 billion. In contrast, the entire industry in Florida was valued at $175 billion in 2017 (the latest information available).

Here are some of the companies with offices in Florida:

• Lockheed Martin Corporation
• Aerojet Rocketdyne
• Pratt & Whitney
• Collins Aerospace
• Sikorsky a Lockheed Martin Company
• Northrop Grumman

Space Exploration Has Changed The World

Humans have always been so curious about what lurks outside of earth. Whether a religious or a secular curiosity, there have always been so many unanswered questions about the universe. Space exploration is an expansion of that. It’s human nature to wonder, and also to act upon that. It’s why the United States worked against the clock to beat the USSR to successfully land a mission on the moon.

And that curiosity hasn’t just been about answering questions. Through NASA in the public sector, and private companies, hundreds of thousands have been created. Entire industries exist because we took those first steps. And now we need to fund the next generation of curiosity,

Below, are five grants that are currently available specifically for space-related projects.

Six Space Grants That Are Out of This World

1. Firstly, there are grants of up to $10,000 to Wisconsin faculty members at eligible IHEs for research projects related to science, aeronautics, and space.
2. There are also grants of up to $2,500 to Ohio IHE faculty members to support educational programs in STEM disciplines. Funding is for informal programs related to aerospace and space exploration. Preference will be given to collaborative activities that involve multiple participants, as well as projects that may be shared with other organizations.
3. An opportunity is available for U.S. student teams to win prizes in a hands-on aerospace design competition. Teams may be comprised of students enrolled in grades 6 through 12, and are sponsored by schools, nonprofit organizations, and educational youth organizations. Competing teams will design, build, and launch model rockets and get hands-on experience solving engineering problems.
4. Additionally there is funding of up to $500 for U.S. educators to go toward classroom projects related to aviation and air and space travel.
5. There are also stipends available to Kentucky IHE’s faculty members to visit aeronautics and space exploration research centers.
6. Lastly, there are grants available to Israel and Florida for-profits for collaborative Aerospace research and development projects.

Grant News Notes

Looking for even more grants? Check out our full catalog of grants over at GrantWatch. There you’ll find a whole host of relevant grant categories.

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