The El Paso City Council has now formally approved the first phase of the Advanced Manufacturing District, also referred to as AMD, at the El Paso International Airport. The bold plan features the construction of three enormous buildings on a huge 250-acre tract and serves as an essential step worth taking toward the future development of this city.
On Wednesday, the El Paso City Council greenlit the construction of the first phase which would involve construction of a single, free-standing structure measuring 50,000 square feet and would be supported by two multi-tenant buildings with areas of 100,000 square feet each. These new, proposed facilities aim specifically at facilitating small and medium manufacturing interests due to their designs providing both physical, as well as cyber and digital-based mechanisms to perform work within each building.
The City said the Advanced Manufacturing District in EL Paso (AMD) project began back in September 2022, when a pivotal moment emerged for local aerospace development when the U.S. Economic Development Administration boosted West Texas’s industrial capabilities. Through the Department of Commerce’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge, the agency awarded $40 million to the West Texas Aerospace and Defense Manufacturing Coalition. Additionally, $25 million was allocated to the El Paso International Airport to support its strategic expansion and development efforts.
New Jobs
The district is supposed to allow the creation of 300 new manufacturing companies and at the same time bring around 17,000 jobs by 2030, targeting engineering, technology, and technical job opportunities.
Mayor Renard Johnson termed the Advanced Manufacturing District project a worthwhile and strategic investment into the general infrastructure of the city, which bodes a great potential to create and offer various opportunities for citizens in such areas as advanced manufacturing and other complementary industries so important for economic vitality.
Advanced Manufacturing District (AMD) in El Paso Project Factsheet
Project Overview:
Location: El Paso International Airport
Total Area: 250 acres
Project Initiation: September 2022
Advanced Manufacturing District in EL Paso: Phase 1:
Buildings: 3 total
Standalone building: 50,000 sq ft
Two multi-tenant buildings: 100,000 sq ft each
Purpose: Support small and medium manufacturing companies
Funding:
Initial Support: $40 million U.S. Economic Development Administration award
Award Allocation: $25 million for airport manufacturing district
Federal Program: Build Back Better Regional Challenge
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Projected Outcomes for the Advanced Manufacturing District
New Companies: 300 manufacturing firms
Jobs by 2030: Approximately 17,000
4,000 engineering and technology roles
13,000 high-skill technical positions
Advanced Manufacturing District Project in EL Paso: Key Stakeholders
U.S. Economic Development Administration
West Texas Aerospace and Defense Manufacturing Coalition
El Paso City
Industry Focus:
Advanced Manufacturing
Aerospace
Defense Industries
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