The Jacksonville Aviation Authority announced that it has received support from the state of Florida in its efforts to transform Cecil Airport into a 21st century commercial spaceport.

The state's designation of Cecil as a Space Territory affords a number of opportunities, authority officials said. The Florida DOT (FDOT) now has legal authority to fund spaceport-related transportation facilities within Cecil to better accommodate horizontal launch space travel.

Cecil also recently received FAA grant funds for the development of a spaceport master plan. The state will be able to pursue funds to design and construct new roadways, taxiways, and assembly and payload facilities.

The aviation authority also was notified by FDOT that Cecil Spaceport has been approved as a planned Strategic Intermodal System (SIS) facility. SIS facilities are instrumental in linking multiple modes of transportation throughout the state. SIS allows the state to fund portions of infrastructure projects that are instrumental in connecting modes of transportation.

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