City of El Paso and UTEP Partner to Provide Workspace and Support for Advanced Manufacturing Businesses

The City of El Paso International Airport and the Economic and International Development Department have partnered with the Aerospace Center and the W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation at UTEP to offer manufacturing workspace and support to early stage, new or existing manufacturing technology businesses targeting the aerospace, defense or other advanced manufacturing markets.

The City will offer funds to offset 100 percent of the rent and operational costs associated with manufacturing technology businesses looking to start or relocate their company to El Paso’s Innovation Factory on Airport property.

Located in the Airport’s Cargo Facility, the 30,000-square-foot Innovation Factory known as El Paso Makes, offers startup businesses an opportunity to:

• Collaborate with other manufacturers and Research and Design teams
• Access the infrastructure necessary to successfully compete for aerospace and defense contracts
• Obtain the needed incubation and acceleration services needed to move into the commercialization of their product

Recently, the El Paso City Council allocated $3 million in local American Rescue Plan funding to provide a mechanism to offset costs associated with future tenants’ wanting to (re)locate to the Innovation Factory.

Small businesses are invited to apply at www.InnovationELP.com or at the link below.

Applications are due by 5 p.m. (MST) Friday, March 3, 2023.

Grant Available for Business Workforce

Application for the AARP Foundation Upskilling Initiative

USHCC Professional Development Grant

ACCEPTING GRANT APPLICATIONS NOW!



For businesses that intend to train and upskill their low-wage workers age 50 and older, this grant program will reimburse employers up to $2,000 per employee for training.

Grant Eligibility Criteria:

• Applicant is a small business with qualifying employee(s) 50+ years of age
• Applicant intends to train qualifying employee(s) to improve or add to their job skills
• Qualifying employee(s) currently earn $16/hour or less on average, and work at least 35 hours per week
• Training to be completed and reported by November 30, 2023 (MUST provide proof of training completion).
• Applicant must demonstrate evidence increasing wage at least $1.50/hour once training is completed ($2.00/hour min. increase to earn the maximum grant award)

Funds will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis so be sure to apply early. Deadline to submit your application is April 3, 2023. If you have questions, email Manager of Procurement, Monica Garza at mgarza@ushcc.com.