With SpaceX coming to Vermilion Parish, the Acadiana area is expecting an economic boom, but what economic impacts will the new Spaceport have on the New Orleans area?
"That's the question we're still looking into," LSU New Orleans economics professor Walter "Dub" Lane said.
According to Lane, construction jobs that spring up near the SpaceX site in Pecan Island may attract workers from the New Orleans area.
"Once they get set up, then the question is in terms of the employees, the people who are going to work there," Lane said. "It's still not clear how much impact that will have on New Orleans because that's a far piece to commute."
Another unknown, Lane says, is whether ancillary businesses will locate in the New Orleans area.
"The question that we're still looking is to whether some peripheral business would rather be here in New Orleans and then be able to work with them in some context," Lane said.
According to Lane, the New Orleans education sector, particularly higher ed, could see gains resulting from the SpaceX project.
"As an educator, I would say that I would certainly think that some of us at LSU New Orleans and other places will be thinking about some job programs that we can help train some people that might be looking for jobs there," Lane said.
Construction on the SpaceX site in Pecan Island is expected to begin late next year.
