Yuma wants to be home to Arizona’s first spaceport.
The city of nearly 100,000 people was recently announced as one of more than 70 finalists for a grant from the National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines program. That could provide up to $160 million over a 10-year period to build the spaceport. The grant is funded by the Southwest Regional Aerospace Innovation Alliance.
The city's intentions are to establish the spaceport and “enhance national security and reduce costs compared to coastal alternatives," according to a news release. The city said the aerospace alliance wants to “advance environmentally friendly propulsion systems for space exploration,” and help the workforce develop and utilize the skills to meet demands in industries such as aerospace, defense and satellites. The effort seeks to create 2,500–3,000 new jobs annually and bring more money into the economy.
Yuma is considered a good location for a spaceport based on factors including the desert climate and proximity to the Sea of Cortez or Gulf of California.
