Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center
Our views: Lawmakers must press case for space support
Florida Today
The Space Coast unemployment rate is clocking in at 11.4 percent, a number that’s taking a brutal toll on individuals and families struggling to survive. Now imagine the impact a 13 percent jobless figure, or higher, would have on our community.
That’s what is looming when the shuttle program ends next year and eliminates about 7,000 jobs at Kennedy Space Center, plus as many as 21,000 more as businesses that rely on NASA paychecks cut workers or shut their doors.
The grim projections came a few days ago from the Brevard Workforce Development Board during a meeting between local officials and Brevard’s state lawmakers in which the need to forcefully address the post-shuttle transition took center stage.
It was the right message to hear, because as Florida’s Congress members urge President Obama to support and fund a new mission for NASA, Brevard legislators are continuing efforts to make their colleagues realize space is critical to Florida’s economy and citizens.
Read the full story.
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