In Biden’s State of the Union address, he emphasized many of the administration’s achievements, especially the economy. But to see his work in action, Cochise needs to look no further than his county.

Here in Douglas, our economy depends on Douglas ports of entry. Goods, services and local residents pass through the port every day. But for decades, ports have become increasingly crowded, posing economic and safety risks to our communities.

As Cochise County Superintendent for over 20 years, I have spent several years advocating for the need to build a second port. There was no way we could come up with the hundreds of millions of dollars needed to build a new port despite the growing need. Funds were finally obtained to expand the port and secure the border.

Douglas Port demonstrates an urgent need for infrastructure modernization. Originally built in 1933, the port handles hundreds of millions of dollars in trade each year. Residents regularly travel to neighboring Agua Prieta to access services and visit family. Ports are critical to a country’s economy and border security.

The port hasn’t been updated in almost 30 years. Currently, it is unable to meet the needs of our community members or the standards of Customs and Border Protection. In many cases, when a large commercial truck carrying hazardous materials passes through a port, all other traffic is stopped, allowing the large truck to avoid sharp turns. Hazardous substances pose a serious threat to humans and the environment in the event of an accident.

Despite the urgent need to expand the port, there was no funding to start a project of this scale. Like many rural counties, we need both state and federal funding to do anything. The biggest employers here are the local, state, and federal governments, and without other large industries, the tax base is shrinking. This therefore meant that without federal investment, the port expansion project would be under water.

But when Cochise County and Arizona received hundreds of millions of dollars from the Biden administration’s economic legislation, suddenly there was enough money to take a second transplant from idea to reality. Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick confirmed that funding for her two-port solution is included in the final bill. With Mayor Douglas, the city council, and Cochise County working together, the plan was ready when funds became available to make the port a catalyst for economic development.

Ultimately, Cochise County committed $5 million in federal funding to begin planning and building infrastructure. State governments have allocated approximately $9 million from federal funds. But what really moves the needle is that Biden’s Investment in Infrastructure and Jobs Act allowed $200 million for new ports and another $200 million to upgrade the existing Douglas Port.

Relieving port congestion is a desperate need, but we also know that building a second port of entry will bring decades of economic benefits. Not only will construction bring in jobs right away, but once completed, the port will allow for increased trade, spawning more businesses to support the port and its employees.

We aspire to bring these financial benefits to Douglas. For a while, young people left rural counties like Cochise in search of better opportunities in more urban areas. But if we can create high-paying jobs, people won’t be forced to migrate just to provide for themselves and their families.

With nearly $500 million coming to Douglas for these projects in the future, some might argue that this is a waste of money. However, port upgrades and expansions will only bring more economic activity for the existing port to handle more than $1 million in daily transactions. Moreover, leaving ports as they are delays shipments, reduces trade, overburdens border guards and threatens our safety.

I’ve been overseeing this project since local officials started talking about the need for expansion, and I’ve never seen it happen so much in real life. None of this would have happened without the Biden administration’s efforts to fulfill its promise.

Ann English serves on the Cochise County Board of Supervisors for District 2 and lives in Bisbee.