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Commissioners approve bylaws to create Central Texas Spaceport Development Corporation with Burnet County
Summary
Williamson County commissioners voted 4-0 to adopt bylaws establishing a Central Texas Spaceport Development Corporation in partnership with Burnet County and the city of Cedar Park; supporters said the move will help attract aerospace firms and workforce development funds.
The Williamson County Commissioners Court voted to adopt bylaws creating the Central Texas Spaceport Development Corporation (SDC), a nonprofit entity formed jointly with Burnet County, the county's administration said. The motion to adopt the bylaws was made by Commissioner Long, seconded by Commissioner Bowles, and passed 4-0.
Arthur Jackson, chief economic development officer for the city of Cedar Park, told the court the SDC would be a public-private entity to develop, manage and operate spaceport-related infrastructure and programs. "So in Texas, the Spaceport Development Corporation or SDC must be formed by at least 2 counties or a combination of a county and a city due to legal and economic considerations as outlined by the Texas local government code 507," Jackson said.
Jackson and Dan Furman, chief operating officer for Firefly Aerospace, described four core SDC functions the partnership would emphasize in Williamson and Burnet counties: infrastructure development, economic development, partnerships and funding, and innovation and workforce development. Furman described Firefly's local operations and manufacturing capabilities and said the company is expanding missions and production in the region.
Jackson told the court the process to complete formation includes defining the area (Williamson and Burnet counties), creating and filing bylaws and articles of formation, appointing a seven-member board and obtaining approval from both counties' commissioners courts. He said the proposed SDC would cost Williamson County nothing upfront and that private and state/federal funding would be pursued.
Commissioners discussed proposed board appointments, including local university and industry candidates. The court passed Long's motion to adopt the bylaws and tasked staff to return with board nominations and filings; Burnet County was scheduled to consider the same bylaws on its agenda on the 25th.
Ending: With the bylaws adopted, the next steps are filing articles of formation, appointing a seven-member board and securing approvals from both counties; commissioners said they will return to the court with proposed board members and further details.
