The El Paso City Council is considering the approval of a $2.3 million grant for a technological incubator that officials say will help create new businesses and jobs with above-average salaries.

The incubator, called the Hub of Human Innovation Inc., focuses on technology-based businesses geared toward aerospace and defense, clean energy, life sciences or advance manufacturing.

The city's grant would allow the hub to grow and become a better asset for other incubators and El Paso, said Eli Velasquez, executive director for Innovate El Paso, which established the new incubator.

"The progress will allow them to, No. 1, hire a staff, but also develop programs that will be vital," Velasquez said. "Basically it gives them a lot of the missing components."

The City Council will not approve the grant at today's meeting, but it will be discussed, according to the agenda. A vote on whether to fund the incubator will come later.

Incubators can help El Paso grow economically and compete with other cities for new businesses, Velasquez said.

"We believe that energy-based technology jobs are where the market is at," he said. "El Paso has the opportunity to really become a showcase of a community that literally started from scratch, when it comes to these industries."

East-Central city Rep. Emma Acosta said the success rate of these businesses or incubators is 90 percent.

"Of those, 75 percent of the incubators will normally stay in the same region," Acosta said. "So that means they will stay in El Paso."

Once businesses are up and running, the hub will continue to create new ones.

"It doesn't become static," Acosta said. "UTEP already had some incubators in place, but with limited resources."

The Hub of Human Innovation Inc. was established by UTEP's Center for Research Entrepreneurship and Innovative Enterprises, the City of El Paso Planning and Economic Development Department, Innovate El Paso and four other groups.

The facility, located in Downtown El Paso at 500 W. Overland, Suite 230, is 3,000 square feet with a conference room, meeting/workshop space and a break room.

Last week, the City Council voted on the final language for a policy that will spend $90 million over the next 20 years for economic development. Most of the money will go toward the continued development of the Medical Center of the Americas.

The rest of the money is directed for incubators and incentives for companies looking to locate to El Paso.

Aaron Bracamontes may be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; 546-6156.