Crist Breaks Ground on Exploration Park Near KSC

Exploration Park Building D

SPACE FLORIDA PRESS RELEASE

Florida Governor Charlie Crist today announced the official groundbreaking for Exploration Park^®, KSC’s next-generation technology and commerce park. Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp, local legislative officials and senior leadership from Space Florida and Kennedy Space Center (KSC) gathered on the grounds of NASA’s renowned Space Life Sciences Laboratory (SLSL) – where ISS-bound payloads are prepared for flight – to celebrate the groundbreaking.

“Today’s groundbreaking is a tremendous milestone in the transformation of Florida’s $8-billion-a-year space industry and will enable the Sunshine State to tap into a greater share of the $250-billion global space marketplace,” Governor Crist said. “I commend the Space Florida team for their vision on this unique project, which is already gaining significant interest from the commercial, civil and defense industries.”

The SLSL will serve as the anchor building for Exploration Park®, which is slated to open its first new facility in early 2012. Florida’s newest research and innovation park will be built adjacent to the SLSL on NASA-KSC property, but will feature easy access for commercial tenants outside KSC security gate locations. Exploration Park^® will host diverse aerospace-related activities for interested commercial, civil and military tenants. The park will be located in close proximity to existing launch and payload processing facilities, providing a direct benefit to tenants with business models that include gaining access to space.

“Exploration Park is building on Kennedy Space Center’s rich history of innovation,” said Florida Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp. “The types of cutting-edge businesses that will operate from Exploration Park will play a significant role in growing Florida’s innovation economy. On behalf of the State of Florida, we look forward to watching Exploration Park grow to become a leading research and technology campus for our state.”

Phase 1 of Exploration Park^® is currently expected to include eight new buildings totaling 315,000 sq. ft. Space Florida has signed a 60-year lease with NASA to develop 60 acres of usable space on KSC property for the park, which will also incorporate the adjacent SLSL and enable other new laboratory and high bay capabilities. To date, six Letters of Intent have been signed by potential tenants of Phase 1 facilities. These companies cannot be identified at this time, however, as they are currently protected under Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) with Space Florida. Tenant announcements are anticipated in the near future.

In the 2010 State Legislative Session, Space Florida received $7.5 million from the Economic Development Transportation Trust Fund to be used for horizontal infrastructure development in Phase 1 of Exploration Park^®. Space Florida received tremendous support on this effort from Governor Charlie Crist, Lt. Governor Kottkamp, Senators Mike Haridopolos, Thad Altman, and Mike Fasano, along with Representatives Dean Cannon, Steve Crisafulli, Rich Glorioso, and Mike Horner.

“We are thankful to our State legislators for leading the charge on attracting increased commercial opportunities to our state’s space industry,” noted Space Florida President Frank DiBello. “More than 1,700 jobs are possible within Phase 1 of this park, and we look forward to working with a wide variety of innovative companies to establish and grow their operations here.”

“Exploration Park will help enable KSC’s future state, supporting a robust commercial space transportation industry, its customer and supplier base, and facilitating a cluster of research and technology activities that advance NASA’s mission,” said Jim Ball, KSC’s Program Manager for Strategic Partnerships.

Pizzuti Companies has been selected as the Master Developer of Exploration Park^®, and will assist in securing tenants, and will also manage and maintain the property.

”We are excited about our role as Master Developer in the creation of a sustainable, state-of-the-art research park,” said Ron Pizzuti, chairman and CEO of The Pizzuti Companies. “Exploration Park is a unique public-private partnership that will play a key role in the effort to retain and attract new jobs on Florida’s Space Coast.”