West Texas Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing Coalition
Coalition Lead: The University of Texas at El Paso
Phase 2 Award: $40 million
Additional Public and Nonprofit Funding (Sept. 2022 – Sept. 2024): $40 million
Project Description:
The West Texas Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing Coalition is utilizing a $40 million BBBRC grant to strengthen the United States’ aerospace and defense manufacturing capabilities by integrating legacy manufacturers in the region into the national supply chain, creating local opportunities in the process. The El Paso metropolitan region is a national leader in aerospace education and training, yet tectonic shifts in international supply chains over the past several decades have led to a hollowing out of well-paying jobs for these talented workers.
The coalition unites regional partners, including El Paso Makes, the City of El Paso, the El Paso Airport, the El Paso County, and Workforce Solutions Borderplex, among others.
As of September 2024, the coalition has made significant strides in achieving its vision of a fully integrated aerospace and defense manufacturing hub.
- The coalition’s new Innovation Factory has attracted a slew of manufacturers, many of which have secured federal grant awards to conduct cutting-edge research and development activities. These incubator tenants are tapping into the region’s strong manufacturing talent pool and creating high-wage employment in the process.
- A contract to design and build the state-of-the-art Advanced Manufacturing District at the El Paso Airport has been awarded, and construction is on schedule to begin in 2025. This space will allow entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small and medium manufacturers to tap into the technological assets hosted by the airport while utilizing assets that comply with United States Department of Defense security requirements.
- The coalition applied for and received a grant of $15 million under the National Science Foundation’s Regional Innovation Engines program. This award and designation will continue to fuel the growth of dynamic aerospace and defense manufacturing in the Paso del Norte region, which encompasses the El Paso region as well as counties in neighboring New Mexico, where NASA hosts crucial aerospace assets.
Coalition Overarching Narrative (applicant submitted) (PDF)
“The coalition is marshalling our vast untapped talent, UTEP’s research preeminence, established manufacturing base, culture of equity and inclusion, and public and private resources and partners for a full-on assault against our low wage trajectory. We have assets for Aerospace and Defense (A&D) manufacturing that will create a more prosperous West Texas.”
West Texas Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing Coalition
Related Links
- Learn more about the University of Texas at El Paso’s Aerospace Center.
- Learn more about the W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation.
- Learn more about the El Paso Airport’s Advanced Manufacturing Campus.
In the News
Additional Designations Earned in Region
