U.S. General Services Administration
Five Border Stations in Maine to be Built, Modernized Under Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
BOSTON -- The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced today that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed into law by President Biden will enable the construction or modernization of five land ports of entry along the Maine border with Canada – strengthening supply chains, creating jobs, and enhancing security and trade.
“America’s land ports are vital to our economy and our security, with billions of dollars in goods and services crossing our borders each and every day,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “These bipartisan investments are a historic opportunity to modernize our land ports in ways that will create good-paying jobs and strengthen supply chains, while enhancing safety and security.”
The $3.4 billion in direct spending by GSA under the law is estimated to support, on average, nearly 6,000 annual jobs over the next 8 years; add $3.23 billion in total labor income across the United States; contribute an additional $4.5 billion to the National Gross Domestic Product; and generate hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue for state, local, and federal governments.
Overall, the legislation will invest more than $150 million* in the five land port of entry projects in Maine. Beyond making these border crossings more functional, sustainable, and secure, this investment will also foster economic growth and job creation in surrounding communities.
In Maine, the projects that will move forward under the bill are: Coburn Gore, Calais-Ferry Point, Fort Fairfield, Limestone, and Houlton.
“Our underfunded and outdated infrastructure has real costs to families, our economy, and our global competitiveness,” said Senior Advisor & White House Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator Mitch Landrieu. “President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is investing in strengthening our supply chains, including our land ports which are vital for moving goods across our borders.”
“These Land Ports of Entry serve as more than just secure, welcoming gateways to our country,” Region 1 Public Building Service Commissioner and Acting Regional Administrator Glenn C. Rotondo, said. “They are intrinsic to the fabric of life and community along the New England border with Canada. We are excited for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve so many facilities and the economic prospects these projects will bring to the region.”
The Maine land ports are among 26 major construction and modernization projects at land ports of entry that will be funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The average land port of entry is nearly 40 years old and long overdue for upgrades. Investment in port modernization will strengthen supply chains, improve operational capabilities and facility infrastructure, spur economic growth, and bolster the country’s security.
These projects also provide the opportunity to incorporate sustainability features that will sharply reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate the impact of buildings on the environment, and simultaneously increase the mission readiness of the federal government by increasing resilience to climate change.
Many of these modernization projects will allow CBP to more effectively deploy the latest technology to identify high risk activity and shipments, combat drug trafficking, and increase operational security.
More information on how GSA is modernizing Land Ports of Entry is available here.
*Note: Estimated project costs are planning estimates and subject to change due to time and market conditions.
About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet and overseeing approximately $75 billion in annual contracts. GSA’s mission is to deliver value and savings in real estate, acquisition, technology, and other mission-support services across government, in support of the Biden-Harris Administration’s priorities. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.