Purpose

To establish the greater El Paso region as a premier retirement destination, demonstrating that this region offers:

• A desirable climate that allows year round outdoor activity and in which the weather rarely, if ever, changes one’s life.
• A modest cost of living, including housing.
• Extensive shopping, including a major outlet mall and the unique products of Mexico.
• Access to good health care services, including a medical school and the opportunity to acquire medications at lower prices in Mexico.
• University level sports with UTEP and the Sun Bowl.
• Ft. Bliss with various forms of support for retired military personnel.
• Personal safety in a city with one of the nation’s lowest crime rates.
• Likely safety from natural disasters such as hurricanes, forest fires, earthquakes, tornadoes and serious floods resulting from rivers overflowing banks.
• Multiple leisure and cultural venues and a growing arts community.
• Ample recreation with many public and private golf courses and a major public tennis complex.
• An airport served by six major airlines with one stop connections to all major U. S. cities.
• An economy that has remained relatively stable during the nation’s economic turmoil of the past two years.
• Opportunity for continuing education.
• Houses of worship of all major religions in the U. S.
• Friendly, welcoming people comprising one of the most open and accepting cities in the U. S.

To enhance the Paso del Norte region as a tourism destination:

• By increasingly publicizing the region’s many attractive features and events.
• By working with others, within and outside PDN, to develop additional attractions and recreational and cultural events that will attract visitors.
• To collaborate with and support the efforts of the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
• To work with local leadership and others, as necessary, to assemble and market “packages” to induce major national companies to commit to building multiple destination resorts in this region.

Goals

2009 – 2010 goals In the coming year, through the 2010 Annual Meeting, this Committee will pursue the following goals: 

• Develop a plan, to include staffing and budget, with two major elements, attracting individual retirees and securing the investment of one or more developers of active adult communities
• Identify and form productive relationships with partners, including but not limited to the City of El Paso as well as realtors, title companies, bankers and builders. Such stakeholders should be prepared to contribute resources.
• Establish a robust web site with multiple links: http://www.retireelpaso.com/
• Create fact sheets about the Paso del Norte Region, comparing to other cities, including those of similar size and/or those that are cited as desirable retirement destinations.
• Employ resources and develop a system to attract and respond to inquiries regarding retirement in this region. This includes but is not limited to creating prospect packages, facilitating visits and following up after the visit.
• Work with the City and others to target specific groups, including but not limited to retired military personnel and UTEP alumni.
• Work with local leadership and others, as necessary, to assemble and market “packages” to induce major national developers of active adult communities and destination resorts to invest in this region.