The Mariposa Port of Entry will receive almost $200 million for construction from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

“This is important for all of Arizona,” said Rep. Raul Grijalva, who broke the news to Mayor Octavio Garcia Von-Borstel on Tuesday afternoon. He said the package for Mariposa totals about $199.4 million.

“Not only will it help our local economy, but our communities are increasingly concerned about security,” he said. “Safety along our border is vital as Arizona continues to become more important in trade with Mexico. The funding is crucial in modernizing border infrastructure that will enhance security while promoting economic development and improving the quality of life in the border region.”

The Recovery Act directs $750 million to renovate and construct federal buildings and courthouses, $300 million to renovate and construct land ports of entry and $4.5 billion to convert federal buildings to high-performance green buildings, Grijalva explained.

In a telephone interview, Garcia Von-Borstel said, “This is the best news for Nogales in a very long time. It comes after several years of efforts on the part of many stakeholders to make the expansion of the port of entry a reality.”

The complete list of projects will be made available on-line at www.recovery.gov.

For in-depth coverage of this story, please read Friday’s edition of the Nogales International.