A new partnership between the state’s lawmakers and space industry professionals is determined to see the space industry in New Mexico grow.

KRQE reported that the “Unite and Ignite Space” initiative has private companies and government entities working together on what U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) calls “habitat for the future ecosystem of space accessibility and commercialization.

“Not just for New Mexico, this is really the start of something big for our nation and our world,” Heinrich said according to KRQE. “To see this become a reality, this is the start of something big, this is the future of our state.”

The senator added that he was successful in securing $11 million in federal defense funding for “Unite and Ignite Space.”

The initiative will set up shop in an office building near the Albuquerque International Sunport, home to the nonprofit NewSpace New Mexico, KRQE reported.

New Mexico’s aerospace profile was raised with the launch of Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson’s SpaceShipTwo over the summer.

Branson – along with Virgin Galactic employees Beth Moses, Colin Bennett, and Sirisha Bandla and pilots Dave Mackay and Michael Masucci – lifted off from the New Mexico Spaceport.

Two hundred twenty miles to the south, Las Cruces is looking to attract more aerospace investment to the area, with Las Cruces International Airport primed to play a prominent role in the effort.

The Albuquerque Journal reported that the airport is updating its master plan, in accordance with  Federal Aviation Administration requirements, with a focus on aerospace.

“The plan makes sure that the pieces you need for growth are either in place or, if they’re not, how we get them in place,” airport administrator Andy Hume said.