FAIRMONT — West Virginia is entering a national competition to host the proposed United States Space Academy, a move that could bring new jobs, private investment and educational opportunities to the state.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced the state-sponsored bid, saying West Virginia intends to compete for a role in the nation’s future space program.
“West Virginia helped write the history of America’s space program, and now we have an opportunity to compete for a role in its next chapter,” Morrisey said according to a statement from the governor’s office. “This will be a tough competition, but West Virginia has a strong case to make. We are going to fight for every opportunity that can bring good-paying jobs to our state, grow our economy, and help make West Virginia more affordable for our families.”
President Donald Trump established the United States Space Academy through Executive Order 14423 on August 28. NASA’s Office of Strategic Infrastructure subsequently issued a national request for potential locations for the proposed institution.
NASA is seeking a site that can accommodate an inaugural class of 300 students in 2028, with construction of a permanent campus beginning no later than 2027. The campus would need at least 300 acres and the capacity to serve 1,200 students by 2031, with room to eventually expand to approximately 4,000 students.
Nearly every higher education institution in West Virginia has joined the effort, forming a statewide network to help support the academy’s curriculum while a permanent campus is developed and accredited. Marshall University and West Virginia University’s joint grant resource centers are assisting with the state’s proposal ahead of the October 26 deadline.
Morrisey said the effort aligns with his administration’s focus on attracting investment and creating employment opportunities for West Virginians.
“Economic development has to translate into something real for West Virginia families,” Morrisey said. “That means more good-paying jobs, more opportunities for our kids to build their careers here at home, and a stronger economy that helps us keep taxes low and make West Virginia more affordable. Jobs and affordability are what this is ultimately about.”
The state is pursuing the opportunity amid a period of significant announced economic development. West Virginia has secured approximately $96 billion in announced private-sector investment and more than 19,000 projected jobs in less than a year, according to the governor’s office. The administration said that level of announced development is approximately nine times what the state had previously experienced over a comparable one-year period.
Although West Virginia would face competition from states with established aerospace industries, Morrisey said the state has a distinct history and potential advantages to present.
“We know that it’s not easy to compete on space issues with states such as Florida or Texas, but West Virginia has our own unique space story to tell,” Morrisey added.
The governor is encouraging communities across the state to contribute potential sites, development concepts and other resources that could strengthen West Virginia’s proposal.
Additional information about the state’s effort is available at wvspaceacademy.com.
