The Daily Dig
SpaceX is building a $100 billion launch facility in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana. Once complete, it will be the largest spaceport on Earth, designed to support thousands of launches a year.
The site sits on Pecan Island, on land the state sold to SpaceX. The property was formerly owned by Exxon.
At full buildout, the spaceport will include five launch complexes, each with two launch pads and its own propellant farm. The project also covers a propellant production facility, power generation, vehicle processing, and housing for employees and their families.
Construction is set to begin in 2027, with the first launch targeted for as soon as 2029.
SpaceX Founder & CEO Elon Musk called it a spaceport that "until now, has only existed in science fiction," and said the broader goal is making spaceflight as routine as flying on an airplane.
Governor Jeff Landry called the deal a pivotal moment for the state, noting it pushes Louisiana past $250 billion in new investment.
Jobs and Jurisdictions
SpaceX expects to create 3,000 direct jobs over the next 10 years, averaging $92,600 a year. The state says that wage runs 192% above Vermilion Parish's average.
Louisiana Economic Development projects another 8,100 indirect jobs, putting total new job opportunities in Acadiana above 11,100.
Locally, SpaceX has struck a Payment in Lieu of Taxes agreement with the parish. The company will pay $25 million a year for 25 years, with an annual escalator, plus a $20 million upfront payment. The deal is projected to generate more than $820 million in direct local payments over its term.
SpaceX has also joined Source Louisiana, the state's contractor and vendor database, giving local subs and suppliers a formal channel to get in front of the project team.
Snapshot:
Project: Starbase, Louisiana spaceport
Owner/Developer: SpaceX
Location: Pecan Island, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana
Sector: Aerospace / launch infrastructure
Investment: $100 billion
Scope: Five launch complexes (two pads each with propellant farms), propellant production facility, power generation, vehicle processing, employee housing
Status: Announced
Construction Start: 2027
First Launch Target: As soon as 2029
Direct Jobs: 3,000 over 10 years
Average Salary: $92,600 (192% above Vermilion Parish average wage)
Indirect Jobs (est.): 8,100
Total New Job Opportunities (est.): 11,100+
Local PILOT Agreement: $25 million/year for 25 years (with escalator) plus $20 million upfront payment
Estimated Direct Local Payments: $820 million+
Charitable Commitment: $25 million to the Community Foundation of Acadiana
State Incentives: LED FastStart recruitment assistance (confirmed); SpaceX is also expected to participate in the Aerospace Facilities and Activities Rebate (Act 190, 2026 Regular Legislative Session) and the High Impact Jobs program
Land: Former Exxon property, sold by the state to SpaceX
Vendor Registration: Source Louisiana database
TheJobWalk Thoughts
A 2027 groundbreaking on a 2029 first launch target is a tight window for a project that includes power generation and propellant production, not just pads and towers. Projects with that kind of compressed schedule typically front-load their procurement, so GCs and heavy civil subs with Gulf Coast capacity should expect early outreach rather than a slow ramp.
The PILOT structure stands out. Paying the parish real dollars every year, instead of leaning on a standard tax abatement, is the kind of deal municipalities usually reserve for projects they expect to stick around. For local trades, that's worth reading as a signal of long-term site activity, not just a single mobilization.
Registering in Source Louisiana now, before the major bid packages drop, is a low-cost move with real upside. On projects this size, the vendor list that matters most is often the one built early, before the general contractor and major subs even have their own scopes finalized.
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