Midland Development Corporation’s efforts to develop Midland’s aerospace industry are spreading west.
MDC board members unanimously approved an agreement with El Paso County to facilitate planning and implementation of the West Texas Aerospace Corridor Master Plan.
Under the agreement, MDC can be reimbursed for up to $655,000 in approved project costs.
“It’s a partnership to develop the West Texas Aerospace Corridor Master Plan using a Texas Space Commission Space Exploration and Aerospace Research Fund grant,” MDC Executive Director Sara Harris told board members.
She said MDC will lead the project by working directly with vendors and consultants on coordination, planning, support, procurement assistance and regional stakeholder engagement. Any agreement with individual vendors will come back to the MDC board for review and approval, she said.
MDC President Brad Bullock asked whether El Paso County received more than $655,000 as part of the plan. Harris said the entire grant was for $800,000, with the balance going to the Borderplex Workforce Alliance.
Judd Campbell asked whether the grant was specific to MDC’s involvement and why MDC was involved.
Harris responded that when El Paso County applied for the grant from the Texas Space Commission, MDC was named as a partner.
“The scope of the work, and the work being done, is going to include El Paso, Midland, and the area in between. So Midland’s participation is important and was originally contemplated and approved by the Texas Space Commission,” Harris answered.
She added, “For this grant, developing plans and studies for economic, workforce and industry development is in congruence with the MDC’s mission, the deliverables will be provided to the board of directors, as well as the Texas Space Commission when they’re needed.”
Bullock stressed that the $655,000 reimbursable to MDC is fully funded by the grant from the Texas Space Commission, not Midland taxpayer revenue.