Overview

Through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, we will modernize two land ports of entry in Minnesota:

• The Grand Portage Land Port of Entry is within the Grand Portage Indian Reservation about five miles northeast of Grand Portage, Minnesota. The port serves passenger vehicles and pedestrians crossing between the U.S. and Neebing, Ontario, Canada. The route has allowed Native Americans, explorers and voyagers to bypass high falls, cascades and gorges for thousands of years. The new 30,678 square-foot facility is the only land port of entry funded under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act located wholly on Tribal land. The project entails demolishing the existing functionally obsolete facility and replacing it with a new facility. The project will be multi-phased to ensure the port remains operational during the construction of the new facility.
• The International Falls Land Port of Entry project will replace the existing, obsolete facility with a new, state of the art facility. The design will make a distinct architectural statement that is also conducive to efficient travel, trade, and commerce. The redesign will also address traffic flow, port security, and inspections. The project includes acquisition of additional land and new construction of an LPOE to accommodate space and facilities for the Federal Inspection Services, Customs and Border Protection, Department of Agriculture Plant Protection and Quarantine, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, to carry out their agency missions at the international border crossing between International Falls, Minnesota, and Fort Frances, Ontario, Canada.

Supply chain

The Grand Portage LPOE is the second-busiest port in Minnesota. The redesign and modernization will better support international commerce functions and shorten vehicle throughput processing time.

The International Falls LPOE is the highest traffic volume of any port in Minnesota. In 2021, the port facilitated over $12 billion worth of trade. By redesigning and expanding the port’s infrastructure, the port will be able to accommodate higher volumes of trade.

Jobs and economic impact

The Grand Portage LPOE has more traffic volume during the summer months. The new facility will incorporate drive-through lanes that benefit the local community by processing more vehicles. The port is an access point to several local businesses, including a local clothing and souvenir store, the Grand Portage State Park, a local lodge and casino, the Grand Portage National Monument Heritage Center, and the town of Grand Marais.

U.S. and Canadian citizens work at a paper mill and use the International Falls LPOE to commute daily. The region’s natural beauty and limitless outdoor recreational opportunities attract a steady stream of tourists year-round.

Security

The Grand Portage LPOE building systems need to be updated. Upgraded infrastructure enhances U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s inspection techniques. The construction of a new port facility will have better safety and security for everyone who works at or uses the facility.

The International Falls LPOE is too small for the number of visitors it serves. The project will improve security challenges by:

• Modernizing buildings and consolidating operations
• Creating primary and secondary inspection areas for commercial vehicles, passenger vehicles, and buses
• Installing a gamma ray inspection technology building or space for a mobile unit
• Designing parking lots with adequate spaces and lighting
• Implementing security upgrades to accommodate additional security measures