Spaceport Trust Fund
The Spaceport Trust Fund (STF) is a financial tool to support the development of infrastructure necessary or useful for establishing a spaceport in the State of Texas. Fund proceeds are available to any spaceport development corporation which has secured a viable business entity if that entity is capable of launching and landing a reusable launch vehicle or spacecraft and intends to locate its facilities at the development corporation’s planned spaceport in the state.
Who Can Apply?
Spaceport development corporations in the state created under Chapter 507, Local Government Code, which have established a development plan for a spaceport project, demonstrated the financial ability to furnish at least 75 percent of the funding required for the project, and secured a viable business entity with a business plan demonstrating the capability and expertise necessary to launch and land a reusable launch vehicle or spacecraft, and which has committed to locating its facilities at the development corporation’s planned spaceport in the state. The spaceport or launch operator, if required by federal law, must also have obtained or applied for the appropriate Federal Aviation Administration license or other appropriate authorization.
Type of Incentive
In the form of grants, disbursed on a cost-reimbursement basis, this incentive will pay expenditures for the development of infrastructure necessary or useful for establishing a spaceport.
Eligibility Details
For full eligibility and program details, please refer to the STF Statute. Grant criteria are written into individual grant agreements with development corporations receiving an STF award.
Please note a reusable launch vehicle is defined as a vehicle intended for repeated use that is either built to operate in or place a payload into space or is a suborbital rocket.
Application
The Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office, as a Trusteed Program within the Office of the Governor, solicits proposals from eligible applicants for spaceport facilities as funds are appropriated from the Texas Legislature. Grant awardees receive a fixed award amount and must submit a budget reflecting planned expenditures up to the award amount.