The reeve for Emerson-Franklin feels they're getting closer to the establishment of a port authority at the Emerson port of entry.

The proposal is being spearheaded by Emerson-Franklin Community Development Corporation and Dave Carlson says they have been lobbying for provincial support and feels they are close to getting that.

"There is a national trade corridors fund that we are hoping to access ... and we're doing zoning and things like that in the area ... and we keep forging ahead and we feel we're getting pretty close."

The general purpose of a port authority is to run the daily operations and financials of the port of entry and oversee its overall activity and development.

Emerson-Franklin CDC believes the creation of a port authority could help direct the economic development of the Red River trade corridor and thus create jobs for local residents in the municipality and beyond.

"Our hope is that we can get it going for next year. Our eye is on economic development, on creating jobs and opportunities in the area. Especially with COVID and what it has done to the economy, any kind of job creation and activity would definitely be welcome."

The Emerson port of entry processes more commercial traffic than any other land border crossing on the Prairies. Over 1,000 commercial trucks pass through every day, but Carlson points out there are no amenities to service that traffic.

"It's a very significant port of entry and so much trade goes through there that you feel that there should be some infrastructure and some amenities to help support all that trade."

Carlson adds they'd like to see something special develop and feels the port authority concept could be a game-changer for the area.

"A lot of our youth head off to university and some leave for greener pastures. We want to create our own green pasture right here."