News Release Washington D. C. Creates New Foreign Trade Zone Opportunity for Fairfield County

Earlier this year, the Foreign-Trade Zones Board in Washington introduced a new voluntary program called the Alternative Site Framework (ASF) that allows Foreign Trade Zone Authorities like the Columbus Regional Airport Authority to designate and manage general-purpose zone sites. The primary goal for the program is to bring competitive benefits of Foreign-Trade Zones to a broad range of companies.” The main features of the ASF will greatly increase flexibility to designate sites via simple minor boundary modification actions and provide greater focus on FTZ designation at sites that are actually being used.

The key benefit is the ability to propose “Usage-Driven” sites for individual companies throughout Fairfield County and place FTZ designation on sites in as little as thirty (30) days. This adds great flexibility and predictability to serving new FTZ users across the area. Along with the ASF’s flexibility comes increased focus on linking sites to actual companies’ use.

“This change in the Foreign-Trade Zone program will allow existing Fairfield County businesses another tool to stay competitive and local officials to attract new businesses to our area.”, says Shane Farnsworth, Fairfield County Economic Development Director. “The Foreign-Trade Zone status has been utilized in Fairfield County in the past. The Alternative Site Framework program will make it easier to use.”

Companies interested in utilizing a FTZ status should contact Farnsworth at 740-652-1546.

01/29/2010