I have spent the past 11 years advocating for STEM education for students in the Rio Grande Valley. Since 2014, I have worked with teachers, families and community leaders to build stronger pathways for young people to discover science, technology, engineering and mathematics. For too long, these opportunities felt out of reach. But something is changing in our area. Something powerful is taking root.
Just four years ago I toured what was still a new SpaceX development near Bocachica. The site is impressive, and without a doubt there are airflow rows, large storage tanks and rocket infrastructure built on coastal flats, but the impression I walked was that it was portable. It looked like something that could easily pack and move things together to Florida, or California, or another country if the winds of business changed direction.
Today, that feeling has been replaced by something much more hopeful. With the proposal to incorporate Starbase as a legal Texas City, SpaceX shows not only its mission to reach Mars, but its long-term commitment to this location, the Rio Grande Valley.
This is important. In areas where corporate and government investments often bypass our schools and communities, planting roots here means more than building infrastructure. That means SpaceX sees the potential of our land, our people and most importantly our youth.
Over the past decade, SpaceX has steadily transformed this Texas coastline. What began as a test site has evolved into the heart of the world’s most ambitious spaceflight systems. The rockets being tested here are not only the most powerful yet, but are also built in the shadows of the school. Thousands of SpaceX employees call the area home. Additionally, over 3,000 K-12 students have already toured the facility, with many looking at the launchpad for the first time in their lives.
SpaceX’s financial investments (millions of dollars over the years) in local school districts are rare and welcome commitments. But even more powerful is the access they gave our students to witness science. When a child in the Rio Grande Valley stands hundreds of feet away from the rocket and imagines building the next one, that’s when the true transformation begins. The impact this will have on the young Texans is immeasurable.
Today, Hispanic experts represent only about 8% of the US STEM workforce, despite accounting for nearly 20% of the population and more than 90% of the Rio Grande Valley. That gap is even more pronounced in the high-tech and aerospace sectors. By pinning the star base in our region, we can help fill that gap. The presence of SpaceX and other STEM-focused employers provides a path to a career that is ready for future pay. These careers could help students see a future where they bring their entire family to the middle class, break the cycle of poverty and not have to leave their homes to succeed. Starbase represents more than just work. This represents a long overlooked economic transformation of a community.
The upcoming vote to incorporate Starbase as a city is another major milestone. On paper, almost 300 registered voters (usually all SpaceX employees) decide whether to establish a municipality with their own city leadership. In reality, this decision has much broader weight. Incorporating Starbase allows the Rio Grande Valley to be positioned as a global hub for spaceflight and innovation. There could be more skilled workers, more STEM-focused families, and more companies investing here. It is a robust STEM economy that benefits not only rockets, but also cities far away from Laredo, more than three hours away.
Some critics worry that this will lead to unidentified corporate power or limited access to beloved public spaces like Boca Chica Beach. These concerns are not without benefits. Bocachica is a cultural touchstone for many in our community. It’s a place for fishing, reflections and gatherings. As development continues, it is important that access and security be carefully managed. While state laws guarantee us access to our beaches, we need to balance it with respecting the safety and impact of something truly unique to our area.
But from my point of view, it is portrayed by fighting for an unbiased STEM opportunity for over a decade, and this is a moment of acceptance. Cities like Starbase can be a catalyst for long-term investments in South Texas when they are shaped with communities in mind. We can prioritize infrastructure and strengthen local schools with a STEM-focused programme, ensuring that valley students are not only prepared to see the future, but also lead it.
Yes, Starbase will probably be a “company town,” but that’s not inherently bad. If done correctly, it could be a community town. It’s a place where technology, education and local voices work together to build sustainable. SpaceX’s presence adds weight to the chorus of local leaders seeking improvements in broadband, transportation and workforce development. It brings a new level of visibility into the valley. We have taken no surprise for a long time, but rarely received it outside of election season.
This is an opportunity to not only shape history, but also shape it. Decisions made on today’s Star Base can have a lasting impact on students who have heard success and grown. That success means leaving the valley. You can change that story. We can see that the next generation grows knowing that it starts at home from here, in their future, space, trunk, and life.
Editor’s Note: The guest column above was written by Jason Arms, a dedicated STEM Advocate and Equity Champion, and served as a vital leader in government innovation and technology and emergency management. As a leader in various education nonprofits that promote K-12 STEM along with the importance of workforce development, he will promote initiatives to expand STEM education, particularly for underrepresented and low-income students. Passionate about building a stronger community, Jason works with organizers, industries, participants and volunteers to empower young Texans through a hands-on STEM program, preparing them for a strong science and technology career in the Texas community. This column has been published on the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service with permission from the author. Arms can be accessed via email at jason@txystem.co
