The U.S. Space Force is looking for a permanent place to land – and many Michigan officials are hoping the newest military service branch picks Southeast Michigan as Space Command headquarters.
Space Force was officially created Dec. 20, 2019, and is currently headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado. A permanent location for U.S. Space Command Headquarters is expected to be selected early in 2021, although the department anticipates it will take about six years to complete the new facility.
The department opened up the application process for communities interested in hosting the facility last May. In July, the city of Sterling Heights announced it had cleared the first round of screening and remains in the running along with dozens of cities across the country.
To be eligible, applicants had to meet several criteria, including being located in a major metropolitan area with close proximity to a military base. In a July press release, Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor said the region’s robust defense presence, industrial base and a skilled workforce “will surely set our community apart during the evaluation phase.”
The proposal has already earned the support of local officials and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration — now, Sen. Michael MacDonald, R-Macomb Township wants the full Senate to adopt a resolution encouraging federal officials to make Sterling Heights the Space Command headquarters.
If Sterling Heights were chosen, it would be “a massive and unprecedented opportunity for economic job growth for the city, the region and our entire state,” MacDonald told members of the Senate Family, Seniors and Veterans Committee Wednesday afternoon.
The resolution was reported to the Senate floor for further consideration.
Communities in 26 states submitted bids for U.S. Space Command headquarters, according to SpaceNews. Other cities that cleared the first round of screening include San Antonio, Colorado Springs, Aurora, St. Louis and several cities in Florida.
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