Construction begins this Friday, June 19, on Spaceport America. The project will be the first world’s first spaceport designed to service private space travel companies like Virgin Galactic. The public is invited to the groundbreaking ceremony at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces.

New Mexico State University has projected that by Spaceport America’s fifth year of operation, it will employ 2,300 people with a payroll of $300 million. In another study, the Futron Corporation has predicted that by 2020, Spaceport America will employ more than 5,000 people and have total revenues in excess of $1 billion.

A concept image is seen here. Read more at the Spaceport America website.