The Department of Economic Growth and has undergone a reorganization, creating a new City Development Department.

The newly formed department merges the Building Permit and Inspection Division with planning and economic development functions. The city is now better equipped to help El Paso grow, said newly appointed Director for City Development Mathew McElroy.

"We live in a globally competitive world, and so we need to do everything we can in terms of building our industries, recruiting industries, but also creating a quality of place. Understanding that, no other city in the world is going to quit doing what it's doing, and so we have to go out and be just as aggressive as they are," said McElroy.

One of the department's top priorities includes making El Paso a serious competitor when it comes to attracting and maintaining new business.

McElroy said improving downtown is critical to achieve that.

"One of the things that's part of economic development is quality of place. People don't move for just jobs anymore. They move for the places they're interested in," said McElroy.

Quality-of-life components include parks, museums, theater and cultural activities. McElroy said it's crucial that the city improve downtown living and transit.

"We will be bringing a set of incentives forward to City Council to incentivize new construction downtown," said McElroy.

Part of the plan includes a new "one-stop shop" creating a seamless process for people looking to obtain development, planning and building permits. McElroy said it will be faster and easier than the current process.

McElroy added a new city ordinance would allow builders to turn old warehouses into downtown apartments.

The Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness comprised an independent report for the city. It evaluates the city's current status, where it can go and how it can get there. In the report, the center found El Paso remained largely unaffected during the Great Recession, mostly in part because of the expansion of Fort Bliss. At a time when most of the country felt the pains of a floundering economy, El Paso flourished. Officials explained that past experience plays a large role in having a city committed to growth.

"It showed El Paso that there is real opportunity," said McElroy.

To read the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness' final report regarding the City and County of El Paso's incentive policies, visit http://www.elpasotexas.gov/econdev/.