PECAN ISLAND, La. — SpaceX plans to invest $100 billion in a massive launch facility in Vermilion Parish that is expected to create 3,000 direct jobs and eventually support thousands of launches annually, Louisiana officials announced.
The project, described by the state as the largest SpaceX launch site in the world, would include five launch complexes with two launch pads each, propellant production and storage facilities, power generation, vehicle processing operations and housing for employees and their families.
Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with the first launch targeted for as early as 2029.
The 3,000 direct jobs are expected to be created over 10 years and pay an average annual salary of $92,600, according to Louisiana Economic Development. LED estimates the project could also generate more than 8,100 indirect jobs, bringing the potential employment impact to more than 11,100 jobs in Acadiana.
SpaceX would use the Vermilion Parish site to increase the frequency of missions involving Starship, the company’s next-generation reusable launch system. The Louisiana facility would become SpaceX’s fourth launch site.
“We’re preparing to build a spaceport that, until now, has only existed in science fiction,” SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk said. “SpaceX was founded to bring about a future where humans are out exploring amongst the stars, which will only be possible when we make going to space as routine as flying on an airplane.”
The company selected a former Exxon property in Vermilion Parish that is being sold by the state to SpaceX. State officials cited the site’s available acreage, Gulf Coast location and access to natural gas for power and fuel as factors in the project.
The state is offering SpaceX an incentive package tied to capital investment and job creation. SpaceX is expected to participate in Louisiana’s Aerospace Facilities and Activities Rebate, created by Act 190 of the 2026 legislative session, and the state’s High Impact Jobs program. The company also will receive recruitment assistance through LED FastStart.
The incentive agreement also requires SpaceX to make a $25 million charitable contribution to the Community Foundation of Acadiana to address regional needs associated with the development.
SpaceX has separately reached a payment in lieu of taxes agreement with local taxing bodies. Under the agreement, the company will make an upfront payment of $20 million and pay $25 million annually to the parish for 25 years, with the annual amount increasing under an agreed-upon escalator.
The agreement is expected to generate more than $820 million in direct local payments over its term, according to the state.
Gov. Jeff Landry said the project pushes the value of announced new investment in Louisiana beyond $250 billion.
“Today is a pivotal moment for Louisiana,” Landry said. “This announcement pushes our state beyond $250 billion in new investment and puts us at the center of the next great frontier.”
The development would represent a major expansion of Louisiana’s role in the commercial aerospace industry. SpaceX currently operates its Falcon rockets and Dragon spacecraft and is developing Starship for missions ranging from Earth orbit to lunar and eventual Mars missions.
The company said the Louisiana site could also support launches associated with orbital data centers and expansion of satellite internet service.
Because of the scale and location of the development, SpaceX has begun working with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and other state agencies to address potential effects on wildlife, fisheries and coastal habitats.
LED also plans to fund dedicated contract positions at state agencies to handle work associated with the project without diverting personnel from existing responsibilities. The additional positions will support the departments of Transportation and Development, Environmental Quality, Wildlife and Fisheries, and Conservation and Energy, as well as the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.
SpaceX plans to hold town halls and other community meetings in the surrounding area in the coming months.
The company has also joined Source Louisiana, a state database connecting Louisiana businesses with contracting and vendor opportunities associated with major economic development projects. The move could provide opportunities for companies elsewhere in the state to compete for work associated with the development.
SpaceX also announced a 50% discount on eligible monthly Starlink internet plans for new and existing Vermilion Parish customers, with no upfront hardware costs for new customers.