County receives $1.1 million grant to create tradeport

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded Doña Ana County a $1.1 million grant to plan, implement and operate an integrated logistics hub, being referred to as the Tradeport, the county said in an Aug. 22 news release.

"The county looks forward to working with the federal government as we develop what the future of an intermodal center can be," said County Manager Fernando Macias. "This latest announcement marks several wins for projects underway at the industrial park such as the grade separation of Industrial Avenue and the state's commitment to expanding capacity out of the port of Santa Teresa port of entry."

The Tradeport is located within the tri-state New Mexico|Texas|Chihuahua binational region economic zone at the United States-Mexico border, with a commercial border crossing into the Ciudad Juarez region within its boundaries, the county said.

“This award indicates the federal government’s support for the project as a critical national infrastructure asset,” the news release said.

The Tradeport will not only leverage the unique, strategic, intersection of highway, airport, rail and port of entry at Santa Teresa,” the county said, its future will include the use of clean-energy platforms such as electric vehicles and an automated movement of cargo to drive efficiencies.

“This logistics district will serve both domestic and international supply chain markets and enable regional and local companies to grow and increase regional business competitiveness,” the county said.

Tradeport project public and private backers include the state of New Mexico, Port of Los Angeles, New Mexico State University, El Paso Metropolitan Planning Organization, El Paso Council of Governments, Union Pacific Railroad, Daimler Trucks, New Mexico Chamber of Commerce, El Paso Electric, (regional) Borderplex Alliance, Mesilla Valley Economic Development Association and the Border Industrial Association (BIA).

“The funding for the Santa Teresa Tradeport will coordinate efforts to bring new commerce and logistics to Santa Teresa,” said BIA President Jerry Pacheco. “It is further evidence that Santa Teresa has become a major economic player on the U.S.-Mexico border.”

“Southern New Mexico is well on its way to becoming the first hub on the transcontinental highway/rail corridor that intersects with the now developing California Inland Port that received the designation in 2021,” the county said.

visit www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/us-department-transportation-announces-new-members-its-regional-infrastructure.