City wants $65M from state for med school
February 17, 2009
City representatives on Monday voted 7-0 to add funding for the construction of a third building at the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine at the Texas Tech University Health Center at El Paso to its legislative agenda.
Written by Gustavo Reveles Acosta, The El Paso Times
EL PASO -- The City Council wants the state to allocate $65 million in revenue bonds for a new research facility at the medical school in El Paso, and they are now putting their lobbyists at work to make it happen.
City representatives on Monday voted 7-0 to add funding for the construction of a third building at the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine at the Texas Tech University Health Center at El Paso to its legislative agenda.
Local officials hope to get funding for the 150,000 square-foot research building during the 81st Texas Legislature session that began last month.
"This is the right time for us to include this project in our legislative agenda," said East-Central city Rep. Emma Acosta. "We have a unified delegation in Austin that has been assigned to key committees. That's going to help us get things done."
Officials with Texas Tech said the new building would be dedicated to the study of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, obesity and diabetes, which are of special concern to people living in the El Paso-Juárez region.
"The construction of this building, the support of the medical school is a good way to make sure the needs of the community are met," said East-Valley city Rep. Eddie Holguin. "But it's also a good way to attract people to come live in El Paso and to create jobs, too."
The city is not alone in seeking additional money for the medical school.
The El Paso delegation to Austin presented a unified agenda for the legislative session, which included better funding for construction and programming at the medical school.
"Approval of this item further strengthens our support for the (medical school) and it demonstrates to our state Legislature that we as a community remain a committed partner in the advancement of medical care for our region's residents," West-Central city Rep. Susie Byrd said.
In other action, the council voted 7-0 to participate in the Project: Fresh Start program aimed at helping developers turn vacant and blighted property into affordable housing.
The city also agreed to let the nonprofit El Paso Housing Finance Corp. manage the program.
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