El Paso and UTEP join forces to offer workspaces to advanced manufacturing firms

EL PASO, TX – The City of El Paso International Airport and the Economic Development Department have partnered with UTEP’s Aerospace Center and W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation to offer manufacturing workspace and support for technology companies.

The El Paso City Council reported that the space and support will be for those new or existing early-stage manufacturing companies targeting aerospace, defense or other advanced manufacturing markets.

In addition, the City indicated that it will offer funds to offset 100% of the rent and associated operating costs for technology companies wishing to create or relocate their company to the El Paso Innovation Factory, located at the airport facility.

“The city’s strategy to grow existing industries and attract new ones, such as advanced manufacturing and international development, creates an innovation-driven technology culture that fosters economic growth,” said Economic Development Director Elizabeth Triggs. 

She added that the partnership with UTEP will also create well-paying career pathways for the border region.

Located in the airport’s cargo facility, the 30,000-square-foot Innovation Factory, known as El Paso Makes, offers start-up companies the opportunity to collaborate with other manufacturers and research and design teams.

Also, the factory allows companies to access infrastructure needed to successfully compete for aerospace and defense contracts; as well as obtain the incubation and acceleration services needed to move to commercialization of their product.

Recently, the El Paso Cabildo allocated $3 million of local American Recovery Plan funding to provide a mechanism to offset associated costs for future tenants wishing to (re)locate at the Innovation Factory.