Bina George, executive director of the Greater Pima Port Authority, told the Yuma County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 4 that the authority is pursuing technology, staffing and classification changes to speed border commerce and broaden port traffic.

“ADOT has agreed to fund” a border wait‑time technology project, George said, describing a $240,000 deployment in partnership with the Texas Transportation Institute and noting the port authority would be responsible for less than $10,000 a year in maintenance costs.

The port authority is also negotiating more onsite USDA entomology coverage for commercial inspections during busy seasons. George said USDA has agreed to provide two part‑time entomologists split across the workweek so inspections can be staffed more days.

George said the authority is pursuing a commercial‑port reclassification for the San Luis crossing on the Mexican side, which is currently a class‑2 crossing and restricts some commodities; the authority is working with Forefront ED toward class‑1 status to allow additional commodity flows. She also said the authority has discussed retrofitting laboratory space at the CBP commercial facility but that state‑level USDA decisions must be finalized before financial arrangements are set.

The authority provided passenger and pedestrian counts for 2020–2024 and described an economic impact study produced with Innovation Labs in Hermosillo, Mexico; George said that study will be published on the port authority website. She also reminded the board the port authority is composed of representatives from the City of Yuma, Yuma County, the City of San Luis and the Cocopah Indian Tribe and said membership leadership recently changed.

George said the port authority did not require the usual $50,000 dues from member governments for the 2025–26 cycle because proceeds from a 2023 industrial land sale provided operating funds. She encouraged board members and the public to engage with the authority’s monthly meetings and legislative outreach with state officials about port infrastructure funding.

Board members asked about competitive advantages versus the Calexico crossing and about seasonal traffic patterns; George attributed a recent commercial decline to tariff and routing decisions by shippers and to seasonal produce flows.

The presentation was informational; the board took no formal action.