Space Florida Bringing Manufacturing Jobs to Melbourne – From Florida Today
Space Florida seeks to bring 2,100 high-paying space manufacturing jobs to Melbourne airport
From Florida Today:
Florida’s aerospace agency pushed forward with negotiations Tuesday to bring 2,100 high-paying spacecraft manufacturing jobs to Brevard County over the next three years.
The Space Florida board of directors approved a staff request to complete negotiations with a company that is expected to invest more than $300 million in a new facility at the Melbourne Orlando International Airport.
The jobs being pursued are expected to have an average wage of $84,000 a year, plus benefits.
The identity of the company has not been released, with the proposal going by the code name “Project Griffin.”
Melbourne Mayor Paul Alfrey said he is excited to see the prospect of more high-paying jobs coming to Melbourne.
“I’m looking forward to the end result,” Alfrey said. “I’m glad that the city is on the forefront of economic development in the county.”
But Alfrey cautioned that nothing has been finalized yet.
Lynda Weatherman, president and chief executive officer of the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast, also expressed excitement about the prospects of the company’s proposed Melbourne operation.
“We’re capturing and finally building momentum from years of work that this community’s done, starting from Embraer,” Weatherman said. “It’s a big project. We’re excited about it. And everything is competitive.”