A presidential task force will recommend competitive grants as a way to encourage businesses to come to the Space Coast and help the region survive the loss of the shuttle program.
Companies in the fields of aviation and aerospace, clean energy, homeland security and life sciences will be encouraged to compete for $35 million in grant money through the Commerce Department.
An additional $5 million would be distributed to commercial rocket companies vying to launch from Kennedy Space Center, under the recommendations to be released Tuesday after being formally submitted to President Barack Obama last week.
Obama created the task force in May to cope with an estimated 8,000 job losses from the retirement of NASA's shuttle program next year. He asked the panel of Cabinet secretaries and agency chiefs for ways to diversify the Space Coast economy.
The department's Economic Development Administration expects to have ground rules for the grants prepared by Sept. 1, with awards possible in the fall.
"Space is a key driver of the 21st century American economy, and that's why the president believes so strongly in empowering NASA to pursue new avenues of discovery," said Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, who co-chaired the task force with NASA chief Charles Bolden.
Other monies are also coming to the Space Coast to help expand small business and help Brevard Workforce. There will also be job fairs, and an export forum.
The $40 million is contingent on congressional approval of Obama's proposal for NASA, which has not happened yet. Spending decisions could still take months.
Task force members included secretaries of Defense, Education, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, Transportation and heads of several executive agencies.
-By Bart Jansen in Washington
Space news and analysis from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral 
4 comments:
Well the EDC will be throwing fits...they were counting on getting their grubby little mits on that $40 Million to save THEIR jobs. :)
It would be so helpful if the Brevard Work Force, Job link, or whatever they are called, to PLEASE let the work force that are soon to be without jobs WHERE TO GO TO GET THE MONEY FOR TRAINING!! Florida Today, and the news at KSC continues to tell us about all the money that has been granted to train us, or send us to school for different careers but not how to get the cash, or any details about that. I suspect this is all going to management of this "program" and not to the workers. Can someone PLEASE print the information about how to get the help we need! I was told I would have to go to an "orientation" for two hours in the middle of the day, which is actually the middle of tne night for those who work midnights, and when asking the Brevard work force people for this information I was told it was not available unless I go to this orientation. Come on - give us a break and pass on the info we need - NOW! please!!!
well, this is sure a surprise
Let's help those poor Shuttle workers? They're not poor.
Do you realize how many USA employees are getting paid 40 hours a week for just sitting around and socializing? Lots of them.
USA is ripping off the tax payers!
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