SpaceX Poised to Build Coastal Spaceport in Vermilion Parish

SpaceX is set to build a multimillion-dollar spaceport along roughly 18 miles of coastal land in southern Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, according to word emerging from Governor Jeff Landry's office. The launch facility would allow the company to send rockets over the Gulf and into orbit, a project anticipated in the area for weeks.

Governor Landry is expected to inform elected officials and business leaders of the deal during an announcement next week in Abbeville. The exact date and time of that announcement have not been released.

The site sits on a roughly 130,000-acre plot in the Acadiana region of southern Louisiana. The land was previously owned by ExxonMobil and has since been turned over to the state of Louisiana. The 18-mile coastal stretch would give SpaceX a facility oriented toward launches over the Gulf.

Details of the deal, including dollar figures and a construction timeline, have not yet been made public. The formal announcement from the governor is expected to provide those specifics.

Supporters say the project could bring a significant influx of jobs to the coastal area in Vermilion Parish. If confirmed, the site would represent a major economic development for the region.

Watch for Governor Landry's announcement next week in Abbeville, which is expected to include the actual dollar figures and timeline for the spaceport.