Maine § 13201. - Maine Space Corporation established

§ 13201.. Maine Space Corporation established

The Maine Space Corporation is established as a body corporate and politic to carry out the purposes of this chapter. Notwithstanding any provision of Title 13‑B, section 102, subsection 4, paragraph C to the contrary, the corporation is a nonprofit corporation with public and charitable purposes. The duties, activities and operations of the corporation must align with the requirements of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, Section 501(c)(3). The corporation is a quasi-independent state entity as defined in section 12021, subsection 5. When exercising the powers conferred to it by this chapter, the corporation is deemed to act as an instrumentality of the State conducting an essential governmental function. The corporation shall leverage the State's geographic, rocketry, manufacturing and higher education assets and capabilities to establish the State as a national and international industry destination and an authority in launching small launch vehicles and small satellites into polar orbit by:   [PL 2025, c. 258, §1 (AMD).]

1.  Properties.  Acquiring and managing properties within the geographic boundaries of the State to develop and operate the Maine Space Complex and its ancillary facilities;

2.  Permits.  Facilitating the acquisition of permits for launch sites from the Federal Government in order to host launch providers;

3.  Workforce.  Facilitating the creation of a highly skilled workforce and attracting and retaining young workers in a new space economy. The corporation shall work closely with the University of Maine System, the Maine Community College System, career and technical education centers and regions and satellite programs, elementary and secondary schools and other organizations in the State to ensure education, training and recruitment programs are in place for the primary purpose of ensuring the availability of a highly skilled workforce to support the State's new space economy;

4.  Facilities.  Providing facilities for research and development; small rocket and small satellite manufacturing, integration, testing and evaluation; and education and tourism;

5.  Education.  Enhancing science, technology, engineering and mathematics education and engagement in kindergarten to grade 12 and higher education curricula through partnerships with private industry to explore use cases for satellite data;

6.  Business intelligence.  Providing satellite-derived business intelligence for local industries to improve decision making;

7.  Businesses and jobs.  Facilitating new high-tech and data-driven businesses and jobs creation;

8.  Engagement.  Serving as a place to engage and inspire the public through programming;

9.  Out-of-state.  Attracting out-of-state businesses, business visitors and tourists to the State; and

10.  Revenue.  Creating new revenue and expanding the tax base of the primary impact communities as an international asset.