LAS CRUCES -- Leadership and business allies of New Mexico's publicly-owned commercial spaceport gathered Monday to mark 20 years since Sir Richard Branson and then-Gov. Bill Richardson announced that Virgin Galactic would establish launch operations at the Sierra County facility.

The announcement came in December 2005, after the state Legislature created the Spaceport America Regional District to collect and distribute a .25% local gross receipts tax supporting the design, engineering and construction of the spaceport. Voters in Doña Ana County approved the tax in 2007 by a margin of 270 votes, followed by Sierra County in 2008. Otero County voters rejected the spaceport GRT in 2008.

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