El Paso Secures $8.7 Million Federal Aviation Grant for Airport Apron Modernization as $316 Million CIP and Tech District Advance

U.S. Department of Transportation Awards $8.7 Million Grant for ELP Apron Overhaul

EL PASO, Texas — Cementing West Texas as a premier binational freight, logistics, and aerospace gateway, the City of El Paso and El Paso International Airport (ELP) secured an $8.7 million federal grant in late September 2026 through the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Airport Infrastructure Grants (AIG) program.

The federal capital will directly finance the complete engineering rehabilitation and structural reconstruction of the commercial aircraft apron at ELP. Aviation engineers confirmed that replacing aged concrete aprons with high-load reinforced pavement improves airfield drainage, enhances ground handling safety for commercial air carriers, and expands aircraft parking capacity to meet surging passenger and cargo volumes across the Borderplex region.

Executing the Multi-Year $316 Million Airport Capital Improvement Plan

The $8.7 million grant accelerates momentum on El Paso's sweeping six-year, $316 million Airport Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The multi-phased municipal program directs capital across three strategic operational sectors: $160 million dedicated to airfield runway resurfacing and taxiway realignments; $77 million for passenger terminal concourse modernization, accessibility improvements, and automated bag-screening technology; and $78 million for non-aeronautical commercial development.

Mayor Renard Johnson emphasized that targeted aviation modernization maintains ELP's reputation as one of the nation's most efficient mid-sized airports, recently recognized in national aviation excellence rankings.

250-Acre Advanced Manufacturing District Attracts Aerospace and Tech Investment

A cornerstone of the city's non-aeronautical strategy is the 250-acre Advanced Manufacturing District (AMD) situated on dedicated airport property. Offering direct airfield access, foreign trade zone benefits, and high-capacity electrical utilities, the AMD is actively recruiting nearshoring advanced manufacturers, aerospace engineering contractors, and semiconductor assembly operations.

City economic development officials project the manufacturing hub will generate thousands of high-wage technical careers by 2030, reinforcing El Paso's strategic leadership in binational commerce and industrial innovation.