Locke lunches with KSC employees, tours lab facility

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke has wrapped up a visit to Kennedy Space Center that included lunch with a dozen shuttle contractor employees expecting to be laid off Oct. 1.

"I told them that President Obama and his entire administration will be doing everything that we can to put their immense scientific and technical talents to use," Locke said after a tour of the Space Life Sciences Lab.

He acknowledged "very, very difficult and trying times for everyone here."

Along with NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden, Locke co-chairs a federal task force formed to help the Space Coast region's economy diversify and create jobs as thousands are lost due to the shuttle's retirement next year.

The Task Force on Space Industry Workforce and Economic Development on Aug. 15 will present the president with recommendations for how to implement the $40 million initiative.

Locke offered few details about the plan before its release.

IMAGE: U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Symrna Beach, today spoke to scientists at Kennedy Space Center's Space Life Sciences Lab.