Unidentified space company planning $1.8 billion in launch infrastructure, 600 jobs at Cape

The Space Florida board of directors unanimously approved grant negotiations with the Florida Department of Transportation for the project. Negotiations will encompass:

• Up to $50 million in matching grant funds "for high-volume production facility, high bay, and related infrastructure."
• Up co to $15 million for utility improvements, including power modifications and industrial wastewater treatment

"Project will enable rapid manufacturing, assembly and integration of flight hardware. Project will significantly increase the volume and mass of payload to orbit from Florida," Howard Haug, Space Florida executive vice president, treasurer and chief investment officer, told board members.

The mystery space company was not revealed during Wednesday's meeting. Aside from one question about Project Hinton's timing, board members did not discuss the project before casting votes.

In the public realm: SpaceX plans to begin launching Starship-Super Heavy rocket systems from the Space Coast by 2026. Environmental study is underway for SpaceX's plan to rebuild Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to accommodate Starship launch and landing operations.

The Federal Aviation Administration is also collecting comments on SpaceX's plan to bring Starships to pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. That makes SpaceX an obvious Project Hinton contender.