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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

BRS Aerospace Invests $7.4 Million To Open R&D Facility At Kennedy Space Center, Florida

07/22/2013
BRS Aerospace will open a research and development operation in a former space shuttle facility at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, creating 34 new jobs. BRS Aerospace will occupy the former Parachute Repack Facility at KSC, investing $7.4 million over three years on renovations and equipment.

The primary mission of the Miami-based company’s KSC operations will be research and development activities for parachute development, including commercial space applications, as well as production prototyping to allow optimization of manufacturing techniques. The company will hire workers in aerospace engineering and management.

“We are positioning BRS Aerospace for its next phase of growth into the space systems market”, said Larry E. Williams, BRS Aerospace president and CEO. “This opportunity calls for additional facilities to support our expansion and the NASA facilities help us immediately optimize operations. Additionally, we can draw on the local talent so that we can leverage their exceptional professional capabilities to deliver long-term value to our customers.”

Partner organizations for the project include the EDC, Kennedy Space Center, the Department of Economic Opportunity, Workforce Florida and Enterprise Florida. As part of the project, Workforce Florida, Inc. offered BRS Aerospace funding through the Quick Response Training grant program.

Gov. Rick Scott said, “We are excited to announce that BRS Aerospace has chosen to open a research-and-development operation on the Space Coast creating 34 new jobs for Florida families. Our policies for Florida families and businesses to succeed are working.”

“Florida’s aerospace industry is alive and well on the Space Coast,” said Secretary of Commerce and President & CEO of Enterprise Florida Gray Swoope. “The state’s renowned research and development base, strong industry workforce and top-ranked multi-modal infrastructure keep help it maintain its standing as a world leader. Announcements like this from BRS Aerospace are indicative of the growth we can expect to see in Florida’s commercial aerospace industry.”

The move represents the continued diversification of Kennedy Space Center, an effort spearheaded by the center’s planning and development team the EDC, Space Florida and other organizations, the Governor’s Office said. BRS Aerospace was looking at sites nationwide but the synergy of a KSC location, as well as the Space Coast’s skilled workforce, competitive incentives and the potential for partnerships with KSC agencies and launch companies led the company to choose Brevard.

Lynda Weatherman, president and CEO of the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast, said, “BRS gets a location at the heart of Brevard County’s evolving and active post-shuttle aerospace industry, while KSC further establishes its standing as a viable commercial center. And the Space Coast gets a company that exemplifies our technological curiosity and R&D strengths while adding more than 30 jobs to our economy.”

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