San Marcos, Texas, is making bold moves to position itself as a hub for aerospace and defense, with implications that resonate for Long Beach and other cities with aerospace legacies. Helen Ramirez, economic development director for the City of San Marcos, recently outlined the city's strategy on The Building Texas Show, revealing a vision that prioritizes aerospace intelligence over launch pads.
At the heart of the plan is the purchase of nearly 200 acres from the U.S. Department of Labor to extend the runway at San Marcos Regional Airport. The expansion, funded by FAA and Texas Aviation grants, aims to attract more aerospace and defense tenants. The airport already hosts over 18 tenants, including Berry Aviation, now owned by publicly traded Bristow Group (NYSE: VTOL). This infrastructure investment is designed to support companies focused on research, development, and manufacturing rather than rocket launches.
Adjacent to the airport lies the 2,000-acre TriTexas mega site, a rail-served development with regional detention and utilities already in place. This ready-to-build site is a magnet for aerospace, defense, and manufacturing firms seeking to relocate or expand. The city's proactive approach is paying off: a survey of 98 companies conducted by Ramirez's office found that over 90% are stable or growing, and about 40% are actively expanding. Epic Piping is adding 100 employees, Amazon continues to grow, and Collins Aerospace reports better business conditions in San Marcos than in California.
Ramirez emphasizes that San Marcos is not pursuing a spaceport like SpaceX's Starbase. Instead, it aims to be part of the "intelligence of creating that ecosystem," similar to Hawthorne, California, home to Raytheon, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman. This focus on aerospace intelligence—engineering, software, and advanced manufacturing—could serve as a model for Long Beach, which has its own aerospace history and infrastructure.
The city's efforts extend to talent development. Texas State University's incubator, Star Park, houses the Innovation Corridor Defense Accelerator, run with Starburst Aerospace and the Hays Caldwell Economic Development Partnership. Additionally, a 130-key boutique hotel is coming downtown on land donated by Texas State, with a minimum-wage requirement tied to inflation in the incentive deal. Texas State is also adding a hospitality program to support the hotel and broader tourism.
San Marcos's business-friendly approach is evident in its permitting process. Texas Building Supply, projected to generate roughly $40 million annually in sales tax without any incentive package, benefits from real-time permit assistance because Ramirez's downtown manager has direct access to the city's permitting software. This level of responsiveness could inspire Long Beach to streamline its own processes to retain and attract businesses.
For Long Beach, a city with a strong aerospace and port economy, San Marcos's strategy underscores the importance of investing in infrastructure, fostering public-private partnerships, and aligning education with industry needs. As aerospace and defense companies seek cost-effective, innovation-driven locations, cities that proactively build ecosystems—rather than just launch pads—may reap the greatest rewards.
