Each year the County supports up to six cultural heritage tourism related events or conventions through the award of $5,000 in grant funding from County Hotel Occupancy (HOT) Revenue. Per the County HOT Policy adopted in February of 2020, and which outlines the Event Fund program, recipients are required to show proof that their proposed event and program will increase hotel occupancy to qualify for a grant award. This is completed at the time of application, by indicating the hotels participating in the program, followed by submission of the Post-Event Evaluation, required as part of the documentation to receive the award in the form of a reimbursement. Recipients must also submit documentation in the form of invoicing, receipts, and cancelled checks to show proof the expenditures took place, and were within the types of expenditures allowed by the Texas Hotel Occupancy Tax Code.
El Paso County, the City of El Paso and The Borderplex Alliance have been working with the Texas Economic Development Council to bring a conference to the area. The group has not visited El Paso in over 10 years.
Texas Economic Development Council is a statewide nonprofit professional organization focused on developing economic and employment opportunities. Team Texas is TEDC’s state business attraction cohort comprised of economic development professionals.
The Team Texas 2021 Summit in El Paso is Aug. 23-25 and will bring about 60 economic development professionals from across Texas as well as about six site selectors from across the country that serve as pathfinders for companies looking to relocate or expand operations in new markets.
Team Texas organizers have requested funds outside of the Tier 3 $5,000 event award cap, to support the costs associated with hosting the 2021 El Paso Summit.