October 23, 2025 | Brownsville, Texas
Cameron County officials have released the latest Starbase Local Impact Report provided by Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), highlighting an unprecedented surge in economic growth tied to the company’s Starship program and the ongoing expansion of its operations in Boca Chica and Starbase, Texas.
According to the 2024-2026 report, SpaceX’s activities are projected to generate more than $13 billion in gross economic output, support over 24,000 local jobs, and contribute more than $305 million in indirect taxes across Cameron County and the Rio Grande Valley.
In 2024 alone, the company reported working with more than 350 local suppliers, injecting over $147 million into the local supply-chain spend.
A Global Company Anchored in Cameron County
The report follows SpaceX’s formal transition of its corporate headquarters from Hawthorne, California, to Starbase, Texas — a milestone that positions Cameron County as a centerpiece in the company’s inter-planetary ambitions.
“I thank SpaceX for choosing Cameron County as the home of Starship development and more recently moving their corporate headquarters to Starbase, Texas,” said Eddie Treviño Jr., Cameron County judge. “Their commitment to our region has transformed our local economy, from high-skill job creation to critical infrastructure improvements.”
Treviño noted that the benefits of SpaceX’s investment extend far beyond Boca Chica Beach. “While Starbase operates close to the coast, every city in Cameron County and the Rio Grande Valley shares in the benefits — stronger schools, more tourism, and new high-paying job opportunities. As SpaceX expands their production capabilities, bringing high-paying manufacturing and engineering jobs directly to Starbase, we will continue to see a new age of growth for all of South Texas happening right here in Cameron County.”
Brownsville at the Center of Growth
The growth of SpaceX’s Starbase has rippled through Brownsville’s economy, creating new opportunities for local businesses, contractors, and educational institutions. With the presence of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and Texas Southmost College, workforce training programs are expanding to meet the demand for skilled labor in aerospace manufacturing, engineering, and research.
County officials also point out that Cameron County’s unique position as one of only two counties in Texas with six modes of transportation — seaport, airport, highway, rail, pipeline, and space — gives the region a strategic advantage for future development. The only other Texas county with such connectivity is Harris County (Houston).
Preparing for the Next Frontier
As SpaceX ramps up Starship production and launch activity, Cameron County plans to streamline permitting processes and enhance public-private partnerships to accommodate the next phase of aerospace innovation. The county also reaffirmed its commitment to coastal restoration efforts at Boca Chica, including dune rehabilitation and expanded public beach access.
Local officials see SpaceX’s expansion as a cornerstone of a broader transformation in South Texas. “We’re not just witnessing a company grow,” said one county economic-development official, “we’re watching an entire region rise to meet the future of space-flight and innovation.”
Sources:
– Cameron County (Tex.) press release, “2026 SpaceX Economic Impact Release” (Oct. 22, 2025) – https://www.cameroncountytx.gov/2026-spacex-economic-impact-release/ Cameron County
– RGV Business Journal, “SpaceX’s operations projected to generate $13B economic impact in Cameron County” (Oct. 22, 2025) – https://www.rgvbusinessjournal.com/news/22/10/2025/spacexs-operations-projected-to-generate-13b-economic-impact-in-cameron-county/ Rio Grande Valley Business Journal
– Cameron County PDF, “Starbase Local Impact” (June 2024) – https://www.cameroncountytx.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2024.6.18-STARBASE-LOCAL-IMPACT-PR-2.pdf Cameron County
