EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso officials are taking early steps toward potentially seeking federal funding for infrastructure improvements in Futureland, a Northeast El Paso neighborhood where residents have spent years pushing for paved roads, streetlights and public sewer service.

City staff and aides from U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar’s office met with Futureland residents Wednesday and looked at the neighborhood’s roads, lighting and other infrastructure needs.

Omar Martinez, assistant director of the city’s Strategic and Legislative Affairs Department, said the visit is part of the early process of putting together a potential Community Project Funding application.

“Our visit to Futureland to observe, take pictures of some of the needs in this community is how the application process starts,” Martinez said.

Martinez said the city would still need City Council approval before an application could be submitted to Escobar’s office. He said the city would also need to identify funding to help support the project.

City officials say a rough estimate puts the city’s portion of the work, including streets and sidewalks, at about $50 million. Because of the cost, officials say improvements would likely have to be funded and completed in phases.

Martinez said the city has experience pursuing Community Project Funding for other projects and has submitted applications through Escobar’s office since 2022. He said, to his knowledge, the city has not previously applied for federal funding specifically for Futureland.

For residents, the possibility of federal funding offers another potential path forward.

“The federal legislative aides are here because they deal with a lot of funding, and that’s what we need,” Futureland Neighborhood Association Chair Leslie Canada said. “The city is telling us they don’t have the funding.”

Jordan Salas reports on City explores federal funding for Futureland improvements (Credit: KFOX14)

Sewer service remains a major concern

Public sewer service remains one of the neighborhood’s biggest infrastructure concerns.

El Paso Water previously said its wastewater project for Futureland is currently scheduled for construction in 2030.

During a recent town hall, EPWater said it would take residents’ concerns to the Public Service Board to see whether the Futureland project could move higher on the utility’s priority list.

Canada said sewer lines are already present in portions of the neighborhood, but residents remain unconnected.

“We don’t have sewage lines. We have them run down our streets, but they don’t connect,” Canada said.

The latest funding effort comes after KFOX14/CBS4 previously reported on a 2021 EPWater letter telling some Futureland residents that a project to convert their properties from septic systems to public wastewater service would soon begin.

EPWater later told KFOX14/CBS4 that the project was pushed back because of funding constraints and rising construction costs.

Residents question why federal help is needed

While residents said they welcome federal assistance, some questioned why they have to look outside the city for help with infrastructure in a neighborhood that has been inside El Paso city limits for decades.

“We’ve been in city limits for decades now,” Futureland resident Dorothy Proffitt said. “If we get help from further higher up, that’s fine. But what about the lower level? What about El Paso? Where’s our money going in El Paso?”

KFOX14/CBS4 also asked City Rep. Cynthia Boyar Trejo, who represents Futureland, about residents’ concerns over why outside funding is needed at all.

“Funding is an issue, right? We’re talking millions of dollars here to get this done,” Trejo said. “Even the streets alone is millions and millions of dollars.”

Trejo said her approach is to pursue multiple funding sources and complete improvements in phases rather than wait for one source to cover the entire project.

“My thought is let’s work at it a little bit at a time,” Trejo said. “Maybe we can get funding from different sources. Then we can start working this in phases.”

Canada said residents ultimately want the same basic infrastructure available in other parts of El Paso.

“We’re just asking for the amenities that everyone else in El Paso has,” Canada said. “We just need to be brought up to the status quo of other El Paso citizens.”

Escobar’s office responds

KFOX14/CBS4 also asked Escobar whether Futureland could qualify for Community Project Funding and whether her office plans to work with the city on an application.

Those specific questions were not answered.

A spokesperson for Escobar’s office said:

Our office is always eager to learn about more opportunities in the community to support El Pasoans and work to secure federal funding. We encourage all interested entities to reach out to our office and stay up to date on the general grants and Community Project Funding processes. More information about funding opportunities and eligibility can be found at escobar.house.gov.

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