News Room

Getting Things Done for El Paso: New UTEP Engineering Building
June 22, 2006

The City's future now depends on how it leverages and invests in "the Five M's" -- medicine, military, movement, manufacturing, and Mexico. For El Paso to succeed, UTEP must lead the way.

Written by Senator Eliot Shapleigh, www.shapleigh.org

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Just as the economic development strategy of El Paso once centered around "the Five C's" -- climate, copper, cotton, cavalry, and clothing-- the City's future now depends on how it leverages and invests in "the Five M's" -- medicine, military, movement, manufacturing, and Mexico.

For El Paso to succeed, UTEP must lead the way.

For instance, with Future Combat Systems (FCS), medical engineering, the Regional Mobility Authority (RMA), and just-in-time manufacturing on El Paso’s near horizon, UTEP's national reputation in engineering is critical to future job creation. Thus, during the Third Called Special Session in May 2005, Senator Shapleigh obtained $76.5 million in tuition revenue bonds (TRBs) for renovations and repairs to UTEP's Physical Sciences/Engineering Core Facility.

This significant investment in a critical project is just the most recent initiative that Senator Shapleigh has spearheaded to improve UTEP. Here are more:

  • Increased UTEP’s appropriation $4.5 million over prior biennium figures (1997)

  • $14 million in TRBs for UTEP projects ranging from modernizing existing classrooms and updating laboratory equipment (1997)

  • Transfer of over $1.3 million in funds from the UT Medical Branch in Galveston to UTEP for programs in physical and occupational therapy (1997)

  • Increased UTEP appropriations by $18.4 million over the prior biennium, including $7.5 million for technology, library materials and building renovation. (1999)

  • $25 million for UTEP for the establishment of the Border Health Institute (1999)

  • $3 million for the creation of UTEP’s Center for Law and Border Studies and sports medicine program (1999)

  • $5.6 million for UTEP in “capital equity and excellence funding” (1999)

  • $8.9 million in new research funding (2001)

  • $21.2 million for UTEP Biomedical and Health Sciences Center (2001)

  • Fought to secure $65 million in TRBs for research endeavors and modernizing research facilities (2003)

  • Fought for funding for the creation of a University of Texas School of Public Health Center in El Paso in collaboration with UTEP (2003)

As one with many family members, including his own father, who count themselves as proud UTEP graduates, Senator Shapleigh has worked hard to support UTEP become a leader in Hispanic research and academics. Senator Shapleigh has always believed that if Coach Price can make the Miners #1 on the field, together we can make our Miners #1 in the classroom!

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