Leaders brainstorm post space shuttle era

With the upcoming retirement of the shuttle fleet on the Space Coast, many are concerned about the future.

Leaders in the county continue to brainstorm and talk about what needs to be done at this point.

News 13 was there as Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas heard from Brevard County leaders Saturday morning

With thousands of jobs expected to go away with the retirement of the shuttle fleet and changes to the space industry there's a lot of talk about what to do next.

"We will go through a hurt, but we are placing a lot of ideas and opening a lot of doors for them to declare success and helping our workforce come through OK," said President of Space Florida Frank DiBello.

That's why Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas met with Space Coast leaders at the Brevard Workforce in Rockledge Saturday morning.

She wanted to hear from them directly.

Come Aug. 15, President Barack Obama's Task Force for the Space Industry Workforce and Economic Development team will make a recommendation on what to do with $40 million that is supposed to be used to help spur jobs in the space industry.

"Consider this $40 million a tool to get there, but not the only tool," said President of Space Coast E.D.C. Lynda Weatherman.

They discussed how to diversify the workforce by bringing alternative energy and commercial space flight to the region and possibly looking to the Department of Defense, Navy, and Federal Aviation administration to bring locations here.

They also focused on how to keep the highly trained workforce in our area.

"It's the community joining together and saying we are not victims here, and we aren't. It's about our future and how do we get to that future," said Brevard Workforce President Lisa Rice.

Officials said that by having meetings like the one that was held Saturday, it will help open the doors to the community and help get Brevard County the political clout they need as they move forward through this very difficult time.  

"So now that that shuttle is going to be flying a little longer, people will be able to hold onto their jobs and look clearly at the opportunities that we're bring here based on this Task Force and the budget proposals that have been brought here," said Rep. Suzanne Kosmas (D), New Smyrna Beach

"I think in the long run this area will clearly emerge stronger as a result of all the things we are doing.  In the short run we are going to ease the pain the community will feel," DiBello said.

Space Florida said city governments, economic development groups, universities and just regular people with business ideas submitted a total of 60 proposals on how to spend that $40 million, each one will be submitted to the Task Force.

Congresswoman Kosmas said the purpose of Saturday’s gathering was to incorporate the community’s ideas and future plan being developed accurately reflects the needs of the Space Coast.