El Paso Small Business Grants, Loans & Incentives

El Paso County's Chapter 381 incentive program provides grants and loans to businesses investing in the county. Chapter 381 is the county-level equivalent of the Chapter 380 authority used by Texas cities, giving El Paso County flexibility to negotiate customized incentive agreements with businesses that commit to capital investment and job creation in the area.

The Defense Industrial Base Business Incentive (DIBBs) program targets a sector where El Paso has a distinct competitive advantage. Proximity to Fort Bliss — one of the largest military installations in the United States — and the Biggs Army Airfield creates a natural cluster for defense manufacturing, maintenance, repair, and overhaul operations. The DIBBs program, part of El Paso's Next Frontier initiative, provides incentives specifically designed to attract and grow defense industrial base businesses.

El Paso's border location also creates unique opportunities for businesses involved in international trade, logistics, and manufacturing. The city's ports of entry are among the busiest on the U.S.-Mexico border, and businesses in trade-related industries may benefit from Foreign Trade Zone designations, federal export finance programs, and the state-level State Trade Expansion Program (STEP).

Beyond local programs, El Paso businesses have access to the full range of Texas state programs and federal programs. The state-level Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant (DEAAG) provides additional funding for defense communities, while federal programs including SBA loans, SBIR/STTR research grants, USDA rural programs (for eligible areas), and contracting preferences for certified businesses are all available to El Paso businesses.