{{titleBar.tagline}}
BROWNSVILLE - SpaceX will build the world's first commercial site for orbital rocket launches in the southernmost tip of Texas.
The state of Texas added $15.3 million in incentives to the geographic value of a location east of Brownsville that will allow SpaceX to have greater control over the timing of its launches. The company has said it plans to launch 12 rockets a year from the Boca Chica Beach, a short walk from the Gulf of Mexico and just a couple miles north of the US-Mexico border.
Gov. Rick Perry's office said Monday that it will provide $2.3 million from the Texas Enterprise Fund. The state will offer an additional $13 million from the Spaceport Trust Fund to the Cameron County Spaceport Development Corp. to pay for infrastructure development.
SpaceX plans to make an $85 million investment and create 300 jobs. The company already has a rocket testing facility in McGregor that employs 250 people.
The Greater Brownsville Incentives Corp. committed an additional $5 million to the project. Over a ten-year period — longer than the state's incentive program — Brownsville expects SpaceX to create 500 jobs.
Our twice-weekly e-newsletter provides a quick overview of Texas real estate markets. Because your time is valuable.