Florida Construction News staff writer
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed two sweeping bills that are expected to drive a wave of commercial, institutional, and civil construction across the state. The legislation supports new aerospace research facilities, vertiports for advanced air mobility, and upgrades to transportation hubs like spaceports, airports, and seaports—creating significant opportunities for builders and contractors in Florida’s growing innovation corridor.
Speaking at the Florida Activation Event in Paris, DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1516, which establishes the International Aerospace Innovation Fund, and Senate Bill 1662, a comprehensive measure to expand and modernize the state’s transportation infrastructure.
“Florida continues to set the national standard for economic growth, workforce development, and innovation,” DeSantis said. “With these bills, we are building on our state’s strong foundation to ensure that Florida remains at the forefront of aerospace and transportation advancement for decades to come.”
Transportation Reform Bill
- SB 1662 enacts wide-ranging updates across Florida’s transportation, seaport, airport, and logistics systems. Highlights include:
- Creation of the Florida Transportation Research Institute, a hub for research and development among universities and aerospace industries.
- New funding for spaceport and manufacturing infrastructure, including support for commercial space launches.
Protections to prevent space-designated land at seaports from being repurposed, ensuring continued industry access near Cape Canaveral, which currently hosts 60% of global space launches.
A statewide framework for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and construction of Florida’s first vertiport at SunTrax to support AAM research and deployment.
International Aerospace Innovation Fund
SB 1516 creates a new fund, to be administered by Space Florida, aimed at accelerating global aerospace research, commercialization, and workforce training in the state. The initiative seeks to foster partnerships among Florida-based aerospace firms, international companies, academic institutions, and space agencies.
The fund is expected to attract new investment and high-wage jobs to Florida, leveraging private capital, international collaboration, and state support to cement Florida’s leadership in the global space economy.
Also during the Paris event, Lockheed Martin and the University of Central Florida (UCF) announced a new partnership to boost workforce development and research collaboration. The planned memorandum of understanding will expand UCF’s internship program, increase sponsored research in AI, robotics, and hypersonic technologies, and create new executive education opportunities.
Space Florida President and CEO Rob Long called the aerospace fund a critical tool for international expansion. “By expanding capital investment efforts internationally, Space Florida can tap into aerospace market capabilities and create stronger alliances with key partners while ensuring that innovations are developed and commercialized in Florida,” Long said.
Read more about the announcement here.
