“Spaceports are often seen as catalysts for local economic development because of the investments that have to be made, and the employment of skilled labor in their operations. The nature of their activities, in terms of safety, security and noise, also means they are located on land that seldom has potential for alternative uses. But as with many other activities, these advantages are offset by high investment and operating costs and a finite demand for space launches. The locating of a [Space]port in a region also has a high visibility, and ipso facto kudo factor for local politicians. These are features that have in the past with other technologies, … often seen excess capacity emerge with a consequential bubble and burst in the industry involved. In addition to natural forces that can lead to excess in infrastructure investment, politicians in particular often have favored locating spaceports in their constituencies, again leading to over capacity as the result of beggar-thy-neighbor effects. There is some evidence that this is taking place regarding spaceports.” 

Safety Design for Space Operations, page 978, Firooz Allahdadi, Isabelle Rongier, 2013

 

From the  November 15, 2012 Camden JDA Press Release:

 

Camden County Joint Development Authority Press Release announced that its board has voted to explore the development of an “Aero-Spaceport” on land currently owned by Union Carbide Corporation and formerly leased to Bayer CropScience. In addition to functioning as a spaceport, the project would allow the city of St. Marys to relocate the existing St. Marys Municipal Airport away from Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, the largest employer in the region. Senior Navy officials have stated that the existing airport poses safety and security concerns. The JDA would not directly develop the airport, but will make land within the project boundaries available to a local Airport Authority for land acquisition and airport development.

“We’ve got to work with the state and partner with a lot of people to try to get some tenants for this project because we cannot do this project ourselves,” authority chairman John McDill said.

 

 

 

 

From the spaceportcamden.us website:

The spaceport would be located "next to the Atlantic Ocean and is surrounded by a large undeveloped buffer zone. Coastal Camden County, Georgia provides a nearly unrestricted launch range for the launch of spacecraft to a wide range of orbits. Orbital inclinations between 31° and 58° can be reached..."

 

PROMISES, PROMISES

To induce GE to relocate to Boston, the package of direct subsidies, tax abatements, training funds, site improvements, and property acquisition cost incentives underwritten by Massachusetts’ taxpayers is expected to total more than $150 million, or more than $188,000 for each job.

 

GE is a hugely profitable company and 800 high paying jobs will be welcomed in rich Massachusetts, but only time will tell if the Bay State taxpayers ultimately benefit. In fact, subsidies often go to rich companies who use their leverage to encourage local officials into 'giving the store away' so that they can then claim they've made a "good investment in the future". But incentives often do not produce the promised jobs.

(story link 1)    (story link 2)