Brevard U.S. Congressman Mike Haridopolos Secures Federal Funding for Key Space Coast Projects

$14 million dedicated to improving water quality and restoring long-term health of the Indian River Lagoon

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Mike Haridopolos announced that several high-priority projects across Florida’s Space Coast will receive significant federal funding following passage of a major appropriations package in Congress aimed at strengthening public safety, education, environmental protection, and scientific research.

The funding was included in the Commerce, Justice, Science–Energy & Water–Interior “minibus,” a legislative package that combines multiple federal spending bills to support critical government operations and infrastructure nationwide.

For the Space Coast, the bill delivers targeted investments that local leaders say will have lasting impacts on public safety, workforce development, and the region’s fragile ecosystem.

“This legislation ensures that federal dollars are working for the people who send us to Washington,” Haridopolos said in a statement.

“These investments directly reflect what I hear from families, educators, first responders, and environmental advocates across Florida’s Space Coast — a desire for safer communities, stronger schools, cleaner water, and a healthier environment.”

Among the largest allocations is nearly $14 million dedicated to improving water quality and restoring the long-term health of the Indian River Lagoon, one of the most biologically diverse estuaries in North America.

The funding will support projects designed to reduce pollution, improve water flow, and protect marine life, including dolphins, manatees, and fish populations that are vital to both the local ecosystem and economy.

Another major investment includes more than $2 million to establish a new Aviation Assembly and Fabrication Program at Space Coast Jr./Sr. High School.

The program will provide students with hands-on training in aircraft and aerospace manufacturing, directly aligning classroom learning with the needs of the Space Coast’s rapidly growing aerospace industry.

Brevard County officials and education leaders say the program will create a direct pipeline from high school to high-skill, high-wage careers in aviation, engineering, and spaceflight operations — sectors that continue to expand as commercial space activity at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral accelerates.

UPDATED SEARCH-AND-RESCUE HELICOPTER

Public safety also received a boost, with $500,000 allocated to modernize the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office search-and-rescue helicopter.

The funding will allow the agency to upgrade key systems, improving response times and operational reliability during critical missions such as missing-person searches, medical evacuations, and disaster response.

“These upgrades will give our deputies the tools they need to save lives when every second counts,” Haridopolos said.

The local projects are part of a broader national investment in science and innovation.

The same spending package includes $24.4 billion for NASA, reinforcing the Space Coast’s role as the heart of America’s space program and a global hub for aerospace research, technology, and exploration.

With commercial launches increasing and new lunar and Mars missions on the horizon, Haridopolos said the funding ensures Florida remains at the forefront of the next era of space exploration while delivering practical benefits to residents at home.

“These investments don’t just support national priorities — they strengthen our local economy, protect our environment, and improve quality of life for Space Coast families,” he said. “That’s what responsible, community-focused government should look like.”

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