Aerospace and aviation among Florida’s top economic priorities
Writer: Pablo Marquez
June 2025 — Florida’s Space Coast has been a launchpad for U.S. space exploration since the 1960s, beginning with the Apollo missions. Today, the state continues to stand out as a national powerhouse in aerospace and aviation, attracting nearly every major player in the industry and supporting tens of thousands of high-paying jobs.
“The aerospace industry has long been a cornerstone of Florida’s economy and identity. I applaud the Governor for signing these bills ensuring Florida’s tradition of advancing the frontiers of flight and space exploration will continue,” said Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd during a recent trade mission.
At the Florida Activation Event in Paris on June 17, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two pivotal bills aimed at reinforcing Florida’s global leadership in aerospace, transportation, and advanced mobility innovation. Senate Bill 1516 establishes the International Aerospace Innovation Fund, while Senate Bill 1662 introduces sweeping reforms to enhance the state’s transportation infrastructure and workforce development.
“Florida continues to set the national standard for economic growth, workforce development, and innovation. 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,” said Gov. Ron DeSantis in a press release.
Florida boasts a highly skilled and diverse workforce in the aviation and aerospace industries, employing over 144,000 professionals, including rocket scientists, machinists, pilots, and engineers. The state is also home to more than 66,000 active-duty military personnel and nearly 1.5 million veterans, further strengthening its talent pool.
Florida’s aviation and aerospace industry is extensive, with over 700 aerospace companies, more than 2,000 aviation businesses, 21 commercial service airports, three spaceports, and more than 125 public-use airports across the state.
Florida is considered the second-largest state for aerospace, and Palm Beach County plays a critical role. Major market players in the aviation sector, such as Lockheed Martin Corporation, Piper Aircraft, Aerojet Rocketdyne (subsidiary of L3Harris Technologies), Pratt & Whitney, STS Aviation, Collins Aerospace, Sikorsky (a Lockheed Martin company), and Northrop Grumman, have established a presence in the area.
The county hosts a strong concentration of major U.S. government contractors and Aviation, Aerospace, and Engineering (A/A/E) firms. Whether the need is for research and development, design, manufacturing, testing, maintenance, or support services, companies in Palm Beach County are well-equipped to deliver the specialized goods and services essential to the aviation, aerospace, and defense sectors.
Image via Joel Kowsky/Wikimedia
For more information visit:
https://www.lockheedmartin.com/
https://www.stsaviationgroup.com/
https://www.collinsaerospace.com/
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