EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — The El Paso International Airport and city leaders broke ground on Wednesday on the first phase of an industrial development project at the airport.

According to officials, the first phase of the project, the Advanced Manufacturing District (AMD), aims to bring new manufacturing and technology jobs to the borderland.

The El Paso International Airport, in collaboration with the city’s Economic and International Development Department, held the groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, marking the start of the first phase of the project.

Officials said the 250-acre development at the airport is designed for new facilities intended to attract small and medium-sized manufacturers and technology companies.

“It’s gonna bring jobs to El Paso, in the areas of aerospace, defense, innovation, and what we’re hoping to do is to make sure that we can keep these jobs in El Paso, keep our youth here in El Paso. And this is going to provide that for the El Pasoans,” Mayor Renard Johnson said.

City and airport officials said they are already seeing interest from out-of-town companies looking to locate and work out of the district.

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