Cedar Park officials propose Spaceport Development Corporation with Firefly collaboration

The Williamson County Commissioners Court held a regular session on March 11, 2025, focusing on the establishment of a Spaceport Development Corporation (SDC) in collaboration with Burnet County. The meeting featured representatives from the city of Cedar Park and Firefly Aerospace, a company recently recognized for successfully landing a lunar module on the moon.

Arthur Jackson, the Chief Economic Development Officer for Cedar Park, opened the discussion by expressing gratitude to the commissioners and highlighting the significance of the SDC. He explained that the SDC would serve as a public-private partnership aimed at developing, managing, and operating a spaceport, which includes specialized facilities for spacecraft, rockets, and satellites.

Jackson outlined six key functions of the SDC, emphasizing infrastructure development, economic growth, partnerships for funding, and workforce innovation. He noted that while Williamson County is not currently launching spacecraft, the SDC would focus on attracting aerospace companies and creating jobs in the region.

The necessity of forming the SDC between Williamson and Burnet Counties was addressed, citing Texas law that requires such entities to involve multiple counties or a combination of a county and a city. Jackson pointed out that this would be the sixth SDC in Texas and the first in Central Texas, with existing ones located in Cameron County, Houston, Midland, and South Texas.

The presentation highlighted three long-term benefits of the SDC: industry diversification, increased investment in infrastructure, and talent attraction through partnerships with local educational institutions. Jackson emphasized that the initiative would not incur costs for the county while promising significant economic benefits.

The meeting concluded with Jackson outlining the steps needed to establish the SDC, which include defining the area, creating bylaws, filing articles of formation, appointing a board, and obtaining approval from both counties' commissioners courts. The commissioners expressed support for the initiative, recognizing its potential to enhance the region's competitiveness in the aerospace sector.