Texas Space Commission Awards Grant to South Plains Association of Governments

Austin, TX - The Texas Space Commission (TSC) announced a Space Exploration & Aeronautics Research Fund (SEARF) grant of up to $500,000 has been awarded to South Plains Association of Governments (SPAG) for a regional feasibility study. 

Located near Lubbock, the South Plains region offers expansive airspace. The feasibility study will evaluate technical, regulatory, and economic factors to determine how best to position the area as a potential future launch site for commercial and defense stakeholders. The study will include consideration of any necessary site selection 
assessments, regulatory compliance, technical analysis, and stakeholder engagement. 

The project timeline is set to take place over six months. The objectives included with this grant agreement are:

• Site Identification and Evaluation: June 2025 - January 2026; 
• Stakeholder Engagement: June 2025 - August 2025; 
• Regulatory & Technical Assessment: October 2025 - December 2025; and
• Economic and Workforce Impact Analysis: October 2025 - December 2025. 

These critical milestones are required to understand the impact and potential of the region as an inland launch site. The SEARF grant will reimburse SPAG for eligible expenditures. 

###
 

About The South Plains Association of Governments 
South Plains Association of Governments (SPAG) is a voluntary association created by the local governments within state planning region two (Lubbock, TX). Authorized by state law, SPAG is an independent political subdivision of the state and is an instrument of local governments. It is one of 24 such organizations in Texas. Learn more.

About the Texas Space Commission
Established by the 88th Texas Legislature in 2023 through House Bill 3447, authored by Rep. Greg Bonnen, M.D., the Texas Space Commission advances innovation in the fields of space exploration and commercial aerospace to strengthen the state’s proven leadership across civil, commercial, and military domains. To date, the total appropriation made by the Legislature for the SEARF Trust is $450 million. Learn more.

Contact
To submit a media inquiry to the Texas Space Commission, please send an email to TSCPressInquiries@space.texas.gov.