Space Florida, the state’s aerospace economic development agency, has designated Cecil Airport a Space Territory.

The designation grants the Florida Department of Transportation authority to fund spaceport-related transportation facilities at Cecil.

The Federal Aviation Administration previously awarded the Jacksonville Aviation Authority $104,805 for a Spaceport Master Plan, a project that will develop and expand commercial space transportation infrastructure, according to an authority news release.

The authority is now able to seek more funding to construct roadways, taxiways and assembly and payload facilities after receiving approval from Space Florida June 9.

“This designation places Cecil on the map to be a catalyst for job creation, and positions Northeast Florida to carve out a niche in the aerospace industry,” said Michael Stewart, JAA’s director of external affairs. “We are optimistic about horizontal-lift commercial space opportunities at Cecil upon completion of our Spaceport Master Plan later this fall.”

The project, which is estimated to cost $210,000, will begin in October and is expected to finish in December.

The Cecil Spaceport also has been approved as a planned Strategic Intermodal System facility, which means the state will help fund part of the project because it links multiple modes of transportation.

Source: http://bit.ly/lFHDHO