Governor Rick Scott Applauds EDC of Florida’s Space Coast, City of Titusville for Winning fDi Magazine Award
Contact: media@eog.myflorida.com
(850) 717-9282
Governor Rick Scott Applauds EDC of Florida’s Space Coast, City of Titusville for Winning fDi Magazine Award
EDC, Titusville and partners recognized for bringing Rocket Crafters HQ to area
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Governor Rick Scott today congratulated the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast, the City of Titusville, and their partner organizations for their recent selection as Project of the Year 2012 by fDi Magazine for bringing Rocket Crafters to Florida.
Governor Scott said, “Florida’s economy continues to grow. Our state has created around 200,000 private-sector jobs and our unemployment rate is at a four year low. Congratulations to the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast, Enterprise Florida, the City of Titusville, Space Florida, and Titusville-Cocoa Airport Authority and everyone involved in the Rocket Crafters Project for winning this prestigious award. We look forward to Rocket Crafters being an integral part of the Brevard County community as it continues to grow and create jobs and opportunities for Florida families. Companies from across the United States and the world are noticing why Florida is the top destination for business. We continue to reduce the business tax, have no personal income tax, and we are eliminating unnecessary rules and regulations that hinder economic development.”
In July of 2012, the EDC and partners announced that Rocket Crafters, a Utah-based corporation, would relocate to Titusville. Rocket Crafters was founded in November 2010 to develop and commercialize a family of synergistic and interrelated aerospace products that will improve performance, reduce cost and increase safety for the Suborbital Transport market.
Lynda Weatherman, president & CEO of the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast said, “We are pleased and honored that fDi Magazine recognized the potential this project has to transform both space tourism and point-to-point transportation from right here on the Space Coast. The Rocket Crafters project highlights how our economy is evolving into what’s next in the space industry by building on the ingenuity, hard work and technological savvy that has long been the hallmark of business on the Space Coast. We thank fDi Magazine for recognizing the EDC’s role in making this happen and look forward to the future development of this exciting company.”
Titusville Mayor Jim Tulley said, “Titusville is extremely proud to have been selected by fDi Intelligence Magazine as a Project of the Year and winner of the global category Best Headquarters Project 2012 for Rocket Crafters’ $72 million investment to relocate its headquarters from Utah to Titusville. The exemplary partnership of the state of Florida, Space Florida, Enterprise Florida, the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast, the Titusville-Cocoa Airport Authority and the City of Titusville led Rocket Crafters to make this move that will generate value-added jobs in our city. We believe Rocket Crafters is about to change the world of international transportation and is a great fit for our high-tech community. We are confident that this prestigious award will expand and confirm our reputation as the ‘Gateway to Nature and Space.’”
Ron Jones, president and chief technology officer of Rocket Crafters, Inc. said, “Our decision to select Titusville as the home for our headquarters, research & development, and production operations was the right one. The workforce there is strong, and the area provides the resources and infrastructure necessary to continue our innovative work. The Space Coast EDC, City of Titusville and everyone involved in the process have been very supportive. We are following through on our decision by securing temporary space in the Space Coast Regional Airport’s terminal building, and moving select team members to the area this spring. We are pleased that the Titusville-Cocoa Airport Authority has begun clearing land on the site for our permanent facilities. We look forward to calling Florida home.”
In determining the winners of the fDi Projects of the Year 2012, the editorial team of the London-based fDi Magazine assessed a pool of more than 13,000 projects. Many factors were considered, but the most important was impact on the region winning the investment, in terms of economic development.
Elizabeth Holmenlund of fDi Magazine said, “In the case of Rocket Crafters, both the job creation figures and the nature of the investment garnered the award. Headquarter projects are highly competitive so landing Rocket Crafters’ investment was a great win and suggests high satisfaction with Florida as an investment destination.”
The EDC of Florida’s Space Coast and its project partners worked closely with the company to demonstrate the competitive advantages of locating in Brevard County and developed a competitive proposal outlining the tax advantages and skilled labor pool. Rocket Crafters selected the Space Coast over sites in Utah, New Mexico, Texas and Colorado primarily due to its skilled labor pool and attractive tax climate. The most important factor considered was impact on the region winning the investment, in terms of economic development. Construction of the company’s new 400,000 sq. ft. facility at the Space Coast Regional Airport is anticipated to begin in 2014.
###
Tweet
