U.S. General Services Administration
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funds San Luis I Port Modernization and Expansion Project
Infrastructure Investment Strengthens Supply Chain for America’s Food Security
SAN FRANCISCO --
Today, the Biden Administration and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Biden will enable the full modernization and expansion of the San Luis I Land Port of Entry (LPOE) in San Luis, Arizona, strengthening supply chains and enhancing security and trade throughout the region.
“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.”
Overall, 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.
“Our underfunded and outdated infrastructure has real costs to families, our economy, and our global competitiveness,” said Senior Advisor & White House Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch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.”
In Fiscal Year 2020, GSA received $152 million to construct the first phase of the modernization of the San Luis I LPOE. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides additional funds for the remaining phase of construction. The funding will allow GSA to construct the entire project in a single phase for a quicker, less costly, and more efficient project.
“Thanks to our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the San Luis Port of Entry will receive the funds needed to expedite construction of this vital economic driver at a lower cost. This additional funding will create more jobs and strengthen our supply chains while securing Arizona’s southern border,” said Senator Mark Kelly.
The San Luis I LPOE is a vital gateway for workers who tend to the critical Yuma County agricultural industry which grows melons, broccoli, and up to 90% of leafy greens consumed, annually, by U.S. consumers during the winter. This port is important to the nation’s food industry and related supply chains.
Built in 1982, the San Luis I LPOE is undersized and no longer meets the needs of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the local economy. The project will increase the processing capacity for both pedestrian and vehicular traffic through the international border. The project will also provide facilities for CBP to safely and efficiently complete its mission to facilitate trade and travel and to spur economic growth in the southwestern Arizona region.
Overall, the legislation will invest more than $400 million* in three ports in Arizona. Beyond making these border crossings more functional, sustainable, and secure, this investment will also foster economic growth and job creation in surrounding communities. Other Arizona land ports slated for funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are the Raul Hector Castro LPOE and a new commercial port in Douglas, Arizona.
“GSA enjoys a strong partnership with the City of San Luis and the greater Yuma County region,” said Acting Regional Administrator Dan Brown. “We are proud to be a part of the region’s success and know that the benefits from this critical investment in the San Luis I LPOE will be multiplied by the work of our regional partners on both sides of the border to meet the needs and goals of communities in southern Arizona. By modernizing the port, GSA is ensuring that CBP has the facilities necessary to complete its mission in San Luis for years to come.”
The San Luis I LPOE is one of 26 major construction and modernization projects at land ports of entry which will be funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The average land port of entry is nearly 40 years old and overdue for upgrades.
These projects will also incorporate sustainability features to curtail the effects of climate change, and reduce our building’s environmental footprint through the use of sustainable construction materials to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
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.
For more information on how GSA is modernizing Land Ports of Entry, please go 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.