Courtesy photo
SPACEPORT AMERICA News:
LAS CRUCES — The New Mexico State University (NMSU) Arrowhead Center and the Center for Border Economic Development (C-BED) have published a study on Spaceport America’s economic impact on New Mexico from 2019 to 2024. The analysis looked at Spaceport America’s operations not funded by the state and focused on tenant activities and out-of-state visitor spending related to the spaceport.
“Our impact study of Spaceport America utilized a standard methodology for economic impact analysis and is based on existing operations and activities that took place over a period of six years,” Arrowhead Center program director and co-author of the report, Dr. Kramer Winingham explained. “The results are significant, showing that Spaceport America in 2024 supported 313 direct jobs and 790 total jobs in New Mexico, up from 242 direct jobs and 396 total jobs in 2019, while contributing nearly $240 million to economic output, up from $72 million in 2019.
“Most recently, our estimates indicate Spaceport America has totaled $110.8 million in value-added production and $73.1 million in labor income for our state in 2024,” Winingham continued.
The report is the second economic impact study released by the New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) and the Arrowhead Center/C-BED team. In August 2023, a similar report was issued focusing on the economic impact for the 2022 calendar year. The most recent version’s year-by-year data has yielded comprehensive information to better understand the spaceport’s cumulative impact.
“We are excited to see these numbers and the growing contribution the spaceport is making to the region,” Scott McLaughlin said, Executive Director of the NMSA, the state agency that designed, developed, and oversees operations of Spaceport America. “Besides bringing jobs and new money to New Mexico, Spaceport America is also helping Space Valley to grow and get noticed by the national aerospace community.”
“New Mexico continues to be a trailblazer in aerospace and space innovation, and having Spaceport America right here in the heart of our state ensures that legacy will only grow,” New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) Cabinet Secretary Rob Black said. “Spaceport’s impact over the last 6 years reverberates on so many levels, from moving this key industry forward to bringing the state millions in economic impact and hundreds of high-paying jobs”.
The report’s analysis covers the spaceport’s tenant employment, privately funded construction, out-of-state visitor spending, spaceport revenues, tax revenue impact, and total economic impact. The study also includes a brief introduction, an overview of the industry, and a summation of Spaceport America’s tenant base and other activities.
“After meeting with tenants, we found Spaceport America has significant competitive advantages about restricted airspace access, weather, and elevation that draw tenants to New Mexico who would not be here but for Spaceport America,” Winingham continued. “These are important attributes which can support further growth at Spaceport America even with the continued development of competing spaceports.”