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Gov. DeSantis gives $6M grant to spaceport in Jacksonville

Money expected to add 3,780 jobs to the area

Gov. Ron DeSantis in Clearwater announces special session combating vaccine mandates. (Copyright 2021 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a grant of $6 million for the Jacksonville Aviation Authority Thursday morning.

The governor was joined by the Florida Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Brad Thoburn and District Secretary Greg Evans as well as Reps. Wyman Duggan and Cord Byrd at the news conference at Cecil Airport.

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The money will go to support the construction of nearly two miles of roadway at the Cecil airport and spaceport. This grant comes on top of $4 million from the Department of Transportation and $3 million from Space Florida.

“They will, of course, be able to add this key road but they will (also build) all the utility infrastructure necessary to support commercial space and business expansion at the Cecil Spaceport,” DeSantis said. “This will lead allow a significant increase in launch operations from the spaceport.”

The governor said the expansion should add 3,780 new jobs to the area.

During the news conference, DeSantis also reiterated that Florida is contesting the Biden Administration’s order on vaccine mandates for companies with more than 100 employees and federal contractors.

This news conference comes one day after DeSantis announced the next legislative session would focus on election integrity, including the creation of a separate office at the state level that would investigate election fraud.

DeSantis said the session would create a separate office that is dedicated to investigating and prosecuting election fraud, which would have law enforcement officers and investigators part of the new office.


About the Authors
Brenda Argueta headshot

Brenda Argueta is a digital journalist who joined ClickOrlando.com in March 2021. She is the author of the Central Florida Happenings newsletter that goes out every Thursday.

Thomas Mates headshot

Thomas Mates is a Streaming Executive Producer for News 6 and ClickOrlando.com. He also produces the podcast Florida Foodie. Thomas is originally from Northeastern Pennsylvania and worked in Portland, Oregon before moving to Central Florida in August 2018. He graduated from Temple University with a degree in Journalism in 2010.

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