City Council on Tuesday recognized the importance of the Medical Center of the Americas by putting $3.3 million per year into the MCA.

Another $1.2 million will be used to attract jobs from outside El Paso and to finance business incubators.

El Paso Electric ratepayers who live within city limits will foot the bill for the allocations. For example, 45 cents on a $60 electric bill goes to support economic development. It's known as a franchise fee.

The MCA is a good investment and should play a large part of the city's current and future economic development. The center already is going strong and includes Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, the Paul. L. Foster School of Medicine, University Medical Hospital, a children's hospital in the works and other facilities.

Also, officials are trying to develop a biomedical cluster that will be part of MCA.

It's a good and forward-thinking use for the money.

But there's something else interesting about this allocation.

The Regional Economic Development Corp. (and the city's economic development staff) wanted the money to finance industry "clusters" that would attract well-paying companies to the area.

Tuesday's 7-1 vote seems to be a repudiation of REDCo and its plans.

And could it perhaps indicate a bit of official frustration with the group's ability to bring in business?

We agree with city Rep. Steve Ortega, who said, "I'm betting on the MCA. I think this is where the community is going to reap the largest benefit."

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