Port Authority says Nogales broke trade records, pushes DeConcini port modernization study

Josh Rubin, chairman of the Greater Nogales–Santa Cruz County Port Authority, told the Nogales City Council on June 20 that the authority continued to focus on trade facilitation, infrastructure and downtown revitalization.

Rubin highlighted long‑running projects and recent activity: the Mariposa (Mariposa/Maniposa) Port of Entry modernization (originally funded in the 2000s), SR‑189 improvements, rail investments and cold‑room deployment at the port. He said last year the port handled more than 404,000 northbound trucks and cited roughly $23.3 billion in imports through the port during the reported period.

"Nogales is more than just the headlines," Rubin told the council, urging elected officials to promote the city's role in supply chains and tourism. Rubin said the authority helped secure $500,000 in congressional funding for a feasibility study tied to a potential DeConcini Port of Entry modernization and that the study is nearing completion.

The authority also is leading a downtown revitalization study in cooperation with GSA and the EPA; Rubin said community workshops and an online survey informed the study and called for more retail, family‑oriented activities and programs to ease border wait times.

Council members thanked the port authority for its outreach and suggested more frequent updates; the mayor and city manager agreed to continue quarterly coordination with the authority.

Ending: The council received the report and invited the Port Authority to continue quarterly briefings as projects and the modernization feasibility study progress.