El Paso's Economic Development Division

  

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DMD Website

 

 

May 2

EPCC Career Services Job Fair

9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

EPCC Valle Verde Campus

 

May 3

Green Business Challenge - Launch Party

The Garden

May 16

Project ARRIBA

23rd Graduating Class

Business to Business Expo

 

The third annual Homegrown El Paso Business to Business (B2B) Expo is set for Tuesday, May 22 at the Double Tree Hotel Downtown.

 

This event is designed to provide Homegrown members an opportunity to share information on the products and services available they offer to the rest of the community.  

 

Set up will take place from 2:00-3:00 p.m. The Expo will start at 3:00 p.m. A cash bar and musical entertainment begins at 5:00 p.m.

 

For more information: Nancy Ontiveros 

(915) 240-8804. 

 

To register: click here

 

Small Business Lending Fair

 

"Come meet a SBA Lender One-On-One"

 

Aspiring entrepreneurs and existing business owners are invited to attend a FREE SBA Lending Fair. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet lenders and SBDC business advisors one-on-one to learn and discuss loan programs, loan eligibility, expansion, business ownership and much more.

 

The event will be held on Tuesday, May 8th at the EPCC Administrative Services Center, Bldg. A, Board of Trustees Boardroom from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

 

To register: 

(915) 831-7742

www.elpasosbdc.biz

 

The City of El Paso's Economic Development Division hopes you and your business are off to a good start this quarter. Our team has been working hard to develop and redevelop key programs and tools to help regional businesses grow and thrive. These undertakings involve our ongoing efforts to launch new and useful programs and our commitment to continue providing incentives such as the City's Infill Development Incentive Policy.

 

We're not alone in these efforts. El Paso's Downtown Management District is also gearing up for some major events and just unveiled a new website highlighting everything and anything going on Downtown. If you haven't checked it out, you're definitely going to want to take some time to see what it has to offer.

 

We hope you enjoy the latest edition of our monthly newsletter. Be sure to forward it to colleagues and friends and get in contact with us if you have questions or concerns.

 

Sincerely,

 

El Paso's Economic Development Division

Incentives are offered based on the level of development investment and the location of the project.  Qualifying projects may be eligible for: a five year tax exemption on the City's portion of property taxes, construction and permit fee waivers and a 100% sales tax rebate on City taxes paid on construction materials for the project. 

 

The property owner at 2308 Wheeling Avenue, Mr. Edgar Lopez, hopes his nearly $400,000 investment will not only bring new housing opportunities, but also enhance the neighborhood and encourage further redevelopment in the area.

There are plenty of winners (a City full of them, in fact) after City Council's unanimous decision to approve a $15  million settlement with the El Paso Electric Company earlier this month. But the biggest winners will be local businesses. 

$1.5 million of that settlement money is helping residential customers; the other $13.5 million will benefit commercial and industrial customers. Individual savings for commercial and industrial users will be based on their  use and rate class. 

City Council Representative Cortney Niland, who led the charge in this fight, explained this was a fight she just couldn't ignore.

Rep. Courtney Niland

There's more good news for regional businesses. This settlement also provides an economic incentive rider - an initiative that will provide declining rate discouns for new and existing business that build new facilities and create new jobs in the region.

"We heard you loud and clear and we encourage you to please be in contact with us if there is a problem," Niland said. "We hope this reinforces the fact that we will address the needs that affect your daily lives and business."

 

The new rates will be effective May 1. 

 

Bert Sperling

Led by co-chairs Richard Behrenhausen and John Moye, along with representation from Jessica Herrera from our Economic Development Division, City Representative Ann Morgan Lilly, Bill Blaziek with the El Paso Convention & Vistors Bureau and Regional Coordinator and Lydia Nesbitt-Arronte,  the Paso Del Norte Retirement Committee is hosting Bert Sperling. Sperling is the CEO of Sperling's Best Places - a company that ranks cities all over the United States. His books, studies and website have made him a recognized expert on cities and what they have to offer.

 

Sperling's visit comes after a recent USAA magazine article failed to mention El Paso as a top city for military retirees. The Paso Del Norte Retirement Committee is hoping to show Sperling why the Sun City should be recognized.  Some of the stops on their itinerary include: Fort Bliss, the Museum of Art, Stahmann Farms, Zin Valle Winery, Downtown El Paso, UTEP and area golf courses.

 

The group also outlined a list of attributes they feel place El Paso at the top of any military retirement list. They include:

1. Expansion of Fort Bliss
   1. Biggest gain in BRAC realignment
   2. Largest PX and Commissary complex in the entire military
   3. Freedom Crossing retail center
   4. William Beaumont Medical Center to be replaced by 2015 with a $1 billion new and expanded facility
2. Quality and Availability of (Civilian) Medical Care
3. Very Military-Friendly City.
   1. Soldiers and their families always warmly welcomed
   2. Many merchants offer discounts to active duty and retired military
4. Vibrant Arts, Culture and Leisure Life
   1. El Paso has both an Opera and a Symphony
   2. Downtown Museum/Arts District
   3. Youth and Science Museums
   4. Fort Bliss offers 36 holes of golf
   5. Butterfield Trail Golf Course
   6. Major college sports through UTEP
   7. Great adult/lifetime learning opportunities at UTEP
   8. Hyundai Sun Bowl. In 2010, the University of  Notre Dame played the University of Miami in front of 50,000 fans
   9. Numerous internationally acclaimed artists perform in El Paso each year
   10. Annual Classic Film Festival
   11. Recently expanded zoo
5. Affordable Housing
6. Modern, Accessible Airport
7. Safety - El Paso ranked as the safest cities in the United States
8. Plans for Active Adult Retirement Community in Northeast El Paso
9. Excellent Weather
   1. High desert climate.
   2. Ability to engage in outdoor activities nearly every day of the year

 Look for a complete update from the visit in our next newsletter.

Go Green and Save Green

 

The City of El Paso invites the business community to participate in the city's first Green Business Challenge - a voluntary program aimed at promoting environmental sustainability while enhancing profitability for regional businesses throughout El Paso County.

 

"This has never been done before in El Paso," the City of El Paso's Sustainability Manager, Marty Howell, said. "We're excited not just about how this will help individual businesses, but how this challenge will benefit the entire county."

 

The City of El Paso is looking to building property managers, property owners and office tenants to demonstrate leadership in environmental performance. Additionally, the City of El Paso will facilitate the achievement of these goals by providing training and resources. Each month, the City will host workshops focused on helping your business go green. These workshops demonstrations include: 'How to Get Started,' 'Recycling and Waste Reduction,' 'Marketing your Green Business,' and many more.

 

Participants demonstrating achievements in energy efficiency during this year-long initiative will be highlighted in the challenge's public outreach campaign and will be recognized by City leaders.

 

"This is a program that's free to the business community," Howell said. "Businesses will save green by going green if they participate in this challenge."

 

Businesses participating in the City's Green Business Challenge are invited to attend a launch party at The Garden (511 Western Ct.) on Thursday, May 3 at 4 p.m. The event gives participants a chance to network and share energy-saving ideas with one another.

               

For more information: 

Green Business Challenge Website

 

      

 

Eloisa Portillo-Morales

Sustainability Program Engineer

Office: (915) 541-4468

Email: energy@elpasotexas.gov

 

 

16 cruiser-style bikes will soon be available for employees to check out from several Downtown locations, including City Hall, Union Depot, the ?Sun Metro Downtown Transit Terminal and El Paso Fire Headquarters. City employees can use the bikes to go to meetings or grab a bite to eat.

 

The program is part of $161,000 worth of "Next Generation" sustainability projects in last year's budget cycle. Those funds come from  an environmental fee assesed to trash/water bills. 

 

El Paso Critical Mass gathers at Downtown mural

 

In conjunction with the bike-sharing program, Mayor John Cook will read a bike proclamation on Friday, May 4th at 7 p.m. at San Jacinto Plaza. Afterward, join us for a downtown redevelopment tour (on a bike, of course). Throughout the month, Critical Mass El Paso is also organizing several events to celebrate and encourage El Pasoans to ride more. These activities include free workshops, children rides, bike movies, cash free bike swap and bike tours throughout Downtown El Paso and other parts of the city. 

 

For more information:   

   Diana Diaz, (915) 541-4747