Oak Ridge, Tenn. (October 12, 2019) - In a letter sent to U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, the Tennessee Valley Corridor (TVC) Executive Committee has strongly recommended Huntsville, Ala. as the ideal location for the new U.S. Space Command (USPACECOM.)
“Huntsville, which is known as the ‘Rocket City,’ is an ideal location for the new headquarters for a wide variety of reasons, including its infrastructure, proximity to existing Defense Department and civilian space organizations, and highly skilled workforce in space technology,” the letter stated.
“Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville is home to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, the U.S Army Space and Missile Defense Command, U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research Development, the Missile Defense Agency, among others. Huntsville International Airport and Cummings Research Park, the nation’s second largest research park, also provide the area with accessibility and proximity to the nation’s top government and civilian space entities.”
“Furthermore, the existing workforce in the area stands ready to meet the challenge of new space missions – and the region’s quality of life and low cost of living will be an added bonus when attracting new talent to the area…The mission support you will find in the region is unmatched and we stand ready to assist in making sure the organization is successful,” the letter concluded.
Representing twelve congressional districts working together across the Tennessee Valley region in Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Virginia, the award-winning TVC regional economic development group has supported federal science and technology missions in the Valley for more than two decades.
“In a study last year, we found that federal investments in the Tennessee Valley Corridor already exceed $75 billion, leading to over 150,000 direct jobs for federal employees and contractors,” said Darrell Akins, TVC executive director. “These investments are being made in space, science, national security, energy, and some of the greatest challenges and opportunities confronting America’s economic competitiveness."
“Given the Corridor’s and Huntsville’s demonstrated success, we can think of no area of the country better prepared for or more deserving of the new U.S. Space Command,” Akins said.
The Tennessee Valley Corridor will hold its 25th annual science and technology summit next year on the campus of Milligan College in Johnson City, Tenn., May 27-28, 2020. For more information about the Corridor or the 2020 Summit, please visit, www.TennValleyCorridor.org.
