EL PASO, TEXAS – Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (16th District, Texas), announced on July 1 that her office secured $15.6M for Fiscal Year 2025 to be distributed regionally among 15 community projects, including El Paso Makes, a subsidiary of the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM).
El Paso Makes has been awarded over $1.1 M in funding for its Manufacturing Research for All Domain Attritable Autonomous Systems (ADA2) project. The funding will be used to initiate a manufacturing research project with small and medium El Paso manufacturers to develop manufacturing models enabled by digital engineering and automation capabilities to support the U.S. goals to produce ADA2 to counter China’s military.
Established in 2023, El Paso Makes is a one-stop resource for manufacturers in El Paso, West Texas, and beyond, helping them access quality suppliers, industry resources, and research needed to ensure the demands of the aerospace and defense markets are met. El Paso Makes is committed to growing the region’s aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing ecosystem through education and workforce development, fostering business opportunities, and diversifying the nation’s defense industrial base.
In a statement released by Congresswoman Escobar, she said it is a privilege to serve El Paso and ensure federal dollars are being invested in the community. “Each year through the appropriations process, my office requests funding for 15 community projects critical to the well-being of our community and region. I am proud to announce this year I was able to secure funding for all of our projects for a total of $15.6 million for El Paso. The projects selected will serve the borderland in a variety of ways, improving infrastructure, expanding educational opportunities, and investing in the incredible work already being done in our district.”
She noted the impact that community project funding has in El Paso can be felt in every corner, which is why she makes it a priority each year to advocate for the highest level of funding for projects that truly make a difference in the community.
The El Paso Makes ADA2 project accelerates additive manufacturing within the integrated digital environment as an enabling tool for rapid manufacturing systems and provides innovation, research, and development, as well as the production of low-cost autonomous systems and assemblies that support U.S. supply chains.
“We are excited that Congresswoman Escobar has secured Community Project Funding for El Paso Makes’ groundbreaking initiative, leveraging nearly $1.2 million in funding to revolutionize manufacturing for All Domain Attritable Autonomous Systems,” stated Randy Gilmore, President of El Paso Makes. “By partnering with local manufacturers and harnessing digital engineering and automation, we plan to build a resilient defense supply chain to counter global threats and strengthen our national security. This project will drive innovation, create jobs, and position El Paso as a leader in advanced manufacturing.”
Due to the expertise and resources available through NCDMM and other El Paso partnerships including the Aerospace Center and the W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation at UTEP, the City of El Paso, the County of El Paso, Workforce Solutions Borderplex, the Rio Grande Council of Governments, and the El Paso Chamber, El Paso Makes is poised to mobilize the West Texas frontier into an innovative manufacturing ecosystem with a skilled workforce that will ultimately bring future economic prosperity to the region.
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