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HomeMy WebLinkAbout13-10106104!2013 RESOLUTION 13-101 A RESOLUTION CONCURRING WITH ST. LUCIE COUNTY'S INCLUSION WITHIN THE SERVICE AREA OF FOREIGN TRADE ZONE (FTZ) 135; AND AUTHORIZING THE CHAIRMAN TO EXECUTE A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE PORT OF PALM BEACH DISTRICT FOR ALTERNATIVE SITE FRAMEWORK DESIGNATION TO THE U.S. FOREIGN TRADE ZONE BOARD WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida, has made the following determinations: 1. Foreign Trade Zones provide public benefits in the expansion of international trade, facilitating exports, assisting economic development efforts, and in creating employment opportunities. 2. Companies operating in a Foreign Trade Zone can defer, reduce, or eliminate customs duties on foreign products admitted into zones for storage, exhibition, assembly, manufacture, and processing, as well as attain access to streamlined customs procedures. 3. The Port of Palm Beach District serves as Grantee for Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) 135, which currently covers 623 acres on specific sites in Palm Beach and Martin Counties under a Traditional Site Framework. 4. The Traditional Site Framework for FTZ 135 serves zone projects on a limited number of fixed sites that serve multiple users such as industrial parks and the Port of Palm Beach. 5. The U.S. Foreign Trade Zones Board has developed a process for an Alternative Site Framework to expand the ability of Foreign Trade Zones to serve companies at other locations based upon their trade-related needs. 6. The Port of Palm Beach will submit an application with the U.S. Foreign Trade Zones Board for FTZ 135 to receive an Alternative Site Framework designation to include in the FTZ 135 Service Area the Counties of Palm Beach and Martin in their entirety and areas within St. Lucie County not currently in the Service Area of the Treasure Coast FTZ 218. 7. Approval of an Alternative Site Framework would expand access to FTZ benefits to companies throughout Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie Counties and shorten the process for FTZ activation. 8. The Port of Palm Beach District requests that St. Lucie County provide a letter of support to accompany its application for an Alternative Site Framework designation. 9. St. Lucie County desires to work with an increasing number of manufacturing businesses, both domestic and foreign, for relocation and expansion in the county. 10. St. Lucie County supports efforts to establish new channels of commerce, increase international trade, and enhance economic development opportunities and job growth in the region. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida: 1. The Board does hereby concur with the efforts of the Port of Palm Beach District to include that area of St. Lucie County not currently within the Service Area of the Treasure Coast FTZ 218 within the Service Area of FTZ 135. 2. The Board further authorizes the Chairman to execute a letter of support for the application for an Alternative Site Framework designation to the U.S. Foreign Trade Zone Board. PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 4th day of June , 2013. ATTEST: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM AND RREOTNESS: