14-02-2025
Concho Valley Council of Governments receives grant from the Texas Space Commission
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — The Texas Space Commission awarded a $500,000 grant to the Concho Valley Council of Governments.
The grant was awarded to the CVCOG as part of the Space Exploration and Aeronautics Research Fund grant program.
The funding is for a feasibility study for an inland launch site in the Concho Valley region. John Stokes, executive director of the CVCOG, said the study is part of the TSC's goal of bringing operations to West Texas.
'What they're really focusing on is looking for an inland space port, a vertical launch site in West Texas particularly,' Stokes said.
The study will be based off a model previously used for a similar project in Michigan.
'We'll be trying to evaluate factors like water use, property rights, how does it impact the citizens,' Stokes said.
Kimble County Judge Hal Rose said this project could bring more opportunities for economic development in the Concho Valley.
'We're hoping that we can find an economic development opportunity that utilizes some of the open space we have while creating jobs,' Rose said.
In addition to the geographical assessment of the region, Stokes and Rose shared that the most important factor to be considered is the people in our community.
'The number one thing we'll be asking is, 'Is this something you want?' We think this is a good idea, but is this something you want? We're going to be very thorough when it comes to that,' Stokes said.
The TSC also awarded grants to the Borderplex Alliance in El Paso, El Paso County, and the South Plains Association of Governments.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
