State leaders are responding to online rumors about SpaceX potentially building a facility in south-central Louisiana, with posts suggesting a possible location near Vermilion Bay and Pecan Island, southwest of Morgan City.
The discussion happened during NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman visit to the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans East, where he toured alongside Congressman Steve Scalise.
Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois highlighted the importance of the aerospace sector for the state.
“Aerospace and defense was called out as a priority sector for us,” Bourgeois said.
“What we are doing with the legislature is making sure our public policy can attract the growth. We want to make sure Louisiana can compete for projects just like Texas, Alabama and Mississippi are.”
While praising the work being done at Michoud on NASA’s Artemis project, Bourgeois was asked directly about her agency’s efforts to attract SpaceX to Louisiana.
“As the private sector looks at Louisiana, we hope they see Michoud first as why we’re good at it and continue to lead,” Bourgeois said. “We are having conversations with space companies all the time to come to Louisiana, and we are excited about those conversations.”
Legislation has been filed at the state Capitol to help Louisiana leaders recruit businesses like SpaceX. One architect behind the aerospace-friendly bills is from Assumption Parish.
“Can a project like that be sustainable in Louisiana, and can it exist with NASA? Regardless if I am discussing a specific project, which I am not, but look at this facility and what Michoud has done, and it’s the example of how workforce is here — every functional rocket that has gone to space in the last 60 years has come through New Orleans,” Bourgeois said.
READ MORE:Could SpaceX come to Louisiana? Here’s what we know
