Stakeholders unite to develop a vision for
the Nogales Ports of Entry

Port Authority Five-Year Strategic Plan

With participation from regional stakeholders and partners, a Strategic Plan was developed by the Board of Directors of the Greater Nogales – Santa Cruz County Port Authority with the goal of providing a roadmap for the next five years for the organization. This roadmap clarifies the Port Authority’s mission, defines the Port Authority’s values and provides a strategic framework for the substantial decisions that will set the course for its investment in the regional economy.

The Strategic Plan includes input from government, industry and business partners and community stakeholders. The Board has listened to the opinions shared at the public meeting held on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 and those provided by e-mail or fax. The Board has taken seriously the comments and suggestions of the community as the Port Authority recognizes that community consensus will only help achieve momentum to grow the regional economy. This Strategic Plan has undergone revision pursuant to the feedback received and the Board feels that the document reflects a commonsense and collaborative view of how the Port Authority can utilize its specialized assets and alliances to assist in the region’s long-term economic development. The final plan was reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors on January 9, 2009.

The next five-year period is a critical time for the Port Authority. As the reconfiguration of the Mariposa Port of Entry is completed and needed modernization and improvements are made to the other three ports of entry, the economic opportunities for Nogales and the County as well as Mexico will be limitless. The new port of entry infrastructure will better connect the region to the world economy, provide a stronger anchor for the regional economy to grow and help spur tourism development. The region must be prepared to leverage and maximize these opportunities to their full advantage. The Port Authority is in a key position to lead the charge. Given the Port Authority’s ability to work across business, governmental and political boundaries as well as cultural and border barriers, the organization is positioned to provide a unifying role in a complex local environment.

The Strategic Plan outlines a five-year plan to build the organizational infrastructure and capacity the Board believes is imperative for supporting the vision for the Port Authority expressed by the stakeholders and partners. Communication, outreach efforts and staffing will be key elements for leveraging the advocacy role that the Port Authority has so successfully achieved over the last four years. Strong, consistent leadership with staffing assistance will be necessary to fully achieve the goals and objectives laid out in the Port Authority’s Five Year Strategic Plan.

The Port Authority Board is dedicated to fulfilling an important public objective. It takes this role seriously and is committed to creating value for the citizens of the community. The Port Authority Board recognizes that it must conduct its planning and decision-making in an open and transparent manner. As all Port Authority Board meetings are open to the public, the board intends to expand its interface with the public and strengthen two-way communication. In addition, the Port Authority will interact with the public through an annual review process to measure its progress and communicate its planning for the following year. The Board sees the Port Authority as an important and collaborative extension of both community and border partners in helping strengthen and grow the entire region’s economy by making all ports of entry more efficient and effective for generations to come.