Spring Hill, FL – As the commercial space industry in Florida continues its unprecedented growth, a sleepy Nature Coast county is not just watching the rockets soar; it’s preparing to leverage that growth.
Located 40 miles north of Tampa, Hernando County is a growing mix of homes and small businesses. Like most Florida counties, it is undergoing a population boom, which strains both infrastructure and educational resources, leaving local leaders scrambling to map the county’s future.
Since 2020, Florida has witnessed an astronomical rise in space launches, with 72 rocket launches recorded in 2023 alone. This surge is part of a global trend that saw orbital launches hit a new record of 223 last year. Companies like SpaceX and Amazon are fueling this growth with massive satellite internet networks, necessitating thousands of satellites in orbit.
Amidst this backdrop, Hernando County is taking proactive steps to carve out its niche in the industry. A key player in this initiative is Sophia Watson, Director at Hernando County’s Wilton Simpson Technical College. Under her leadership, the college is expanding with a new campus at Brooksville Regional Airport, aimed at becoming a cornerstone for aerospace education and a small business incubator dubbed the “Space Hub.”
Watson’s vision is clear, “Recognizing the aerospace industry’s phases—groundwork, launch, and operations—we see Hernando as pivotal in the operations phase. The skills we have today will be needed in space tomorrow,” she explained. This initiative seeks to bridge local capabilities with the demands of space operations, ideally positioning Hernando County to support and participate in this rapidly expanding field.
The proposed Space Hub at Brooksville – Tampa Bay Regional Airport is envisioned as a cradle for space-oriented entrepreneurship. With a 2,400-acre footprint and a 7,000 ft runway, the airport is already a hub for over 100 businesses, providing a fertile ground for new ventures. The hub aims to foster innovation by supporting startups that contribute to aerospace technology and infrastructure.
Valerie Pianta, Hernando County Economic Development Director, is equally optimistic about the project’s potential to boost the local economy and workforce development. “The Space Hub is not just about growing; it’s about enabling our community to actively contribute to and benefit from the space industry,” Pianta stated.
The project’s ambitious goals come with a hefty price tag of approximately $4 million. Efforts to secure funding are underway, with proposals for federal Community project funding and active discussions among local and regional leaders. Brooksville Mayor Blake Bell emphasized the importance of support at all government levels to ensure the project’s success and its significant expected impact on the local economy.
NASA has expressed strong support for such initiatives, recognizing the critical role of a diverse STEM-skilled workforce and local educational programs in sustaining U.S. leadership in space. Kimberlyn B. Carter from NASA highlighted the agency’s strategy to foster a sustainable and vibrant economy in low Earth orbit, noting the beneficial synergy between educational initiatives and industry growth.
“NASA relies on a diverse STEM skilled workforce for its needs today and in the future. The agency has a long history of engaging students of all ages in science, technology, engineering and math, as well as fostering technological innovation and supporting the growth of the commercial space sector. And as an agency, we are executing a strategy to develop a vibrant economy in low Earth orbit that is sustainable, cost-effective, and safe, and NASA Kennedy’s Master Plan is posturing us for sustainable growth of the spaceport. The synergy and collaboration that results from all of these efforts is good for students, good for NASA and the space industry, and good for the nation.”
Kimberlyn Carter NASA’s director of the Office of Center Engagement and Business Integration Services
As the global space economy is projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035, Hernando County’s Space Hub aims to ensure the region is well-positioned to claim its share of the industry’s future. With industries ranging from transportation to digital communications increasingly reliant on space technologies, the opportunities for growth and innovation appear boundless.
With construction of the Wilton Simpson Technical College progressing rapidly towards a completion date later this year, Hernando County is on the brink of becoming a key player in the next frontier of aerospace and technology.
