TALLAHASSEE -- Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, who heads the board of Brevard-based Space Florida, said Wednesday to "stay tuned" for potential changes to be made at the maligned economic development agency tasked with transitioning the state's economy into the post-space shuttle world.

The agency and its president, Steve Kohler, have endured a string of critical stories in the Sentinel over its no-bid lobbying contracts, another "sole source" contract with a now-indicted former NASA official who played a central role in hiring Kohler, complaints from former contractors and space business leaders, and the agency's deal with a Panhandle sports clinic for a "space tourist" training center.

Disclosure over the $300,000 spent on lobbyists last year led lawmakers to threaten to cut state funds for the agency last month, and Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, said this week he had been given a vague assurance from Kottkamp's office that there would be "structural improvements" at the three-year-old agency.

Asked for more details Wednesday, Kottkamp said: 'Stay tuned. Obviously part of the board's job is to continually monitor what's going on at Space Florida and make sure we're making sure Florida continues to be seen as a pre-eminent state in the space industry. Stay tuned to that. We'll continue to monitor closely to make sure we get the job done.'

Here's what else he had to say:

Question: What about the group of space industry officials who met privately with you last week to voice their concerns? What was said?

Kottkamp: "It was to make sure we are poised to take advantage of the great workforce that we have by transitioning some of the people that may not stay with NASA into the private sector. That is a strength we have that no place else in the country has, that work force, and to make sure we're taking steps to transition that work force and keep as many jobs as we possibly can here in Florida.'

Question: Lawmakers have expressed concerns that the agency wasn't acting with enough "urgency" to offset the job losses along the Space Coast. Is it?

Kottkamp: 'I think there's been an urgency. Maybe it hasn't been communicated as well as it should have been. But I think there's a very strong understanding that change is coming on the Space Coast and we need to be prepared for it.'

Question: What do you know about President Obama's plan to order a review of the Constellation program?

Kottkamp: 'Hopefully that means they will understand there's an urgency at the federal level that needs to be taken seriously, too. We need to be given some assurances throughout the country…. We need to make sure long-term plans are put in place soon at the federal level that will trickle down and effect what we do here in Florida."