Broward County Commission Regular Meeting

MOTION TO AUTHORIZE Port Everglades Department Chief Executive/Port Director to execute and submit to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board on behalf of Broward County, Foreign-Trade Zone ("FTZ") No. 25 Grantee, applications for designation of additional desirable Broward County sites for foreign-trade zone use by businesses seeking FTZ No. 25 benefits during the Broward County Board of County Commissioners' ("Board") summer recess, and advise the Board of any applications submitted during the recess.

ACTION:  (T-11:16 AM)  Approved.

VOTE:  8-0.  Commissioner Sharief was not present.

Board approval is required to authorize the Port Everglades Chief Executive/Port Director to submit applications to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board during the summer recess for the designation of additional Broward County sites to FTZ No. 25.

Authorizes the Port Everglades Chief Executive/Port Director to submit applications to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board during the summer recess for the designation of additional Broward County sites to FTZ No. 25 to expedite the designation of sites where foreign-trade zone activity can take place, creating jobs and investments in Broward County.

None.

THE PORT EVERGLADES DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.

These actions supports the Broward County Board of County Commissioners' ("Board") Value of "Ensuring economic opportunities for Broward's diverse population and businesses in Broward" and the Goal to "Increase the economic strength and impact of revenue-generating County enterprises balancing economic, environmental, and community needs."

The Board is the Grantee and Operator of Foreign-Trade Zone ("FTZ") No. 25 as authorized by the Foreign-Trade Zones Board ("FTZ Board"). As Grantee and Operator, the Board can submit an application to the FTZ Board to reorganize and alter the established boundaries of FTZ No. 25. The dynamic growth of Broward County’s foreign-trade zone program has prompted the Board to request numerous boundary modifications over the last several years. Historically, the warehouse, manufacturing, and distribution facilities utilized in the foreign-trade zone program have been located at or near Port Everglades. However, as the number of potential general-purpose FTZ participants has grown, and as their demand for larger facilities in outlying locations within Broward County has also grown, so has the need for a larger and more diversified FTZ footprint. This strategy has been very successful in growing the participation of businesses utilizing FTZ No. 25, which is currently composed of 22 designated FTZ sites encompassing over 388 acres.

Staff is requesting authorization for the Port Everglades Chief Executive/Port Director to submit applications to the FTZ Board for designation of additional desirable Broward County sites for foreign-trade zone use by businesses seeking FTZ No. 25 benefits during the Board's summer recess. County policy requires Board approval to submit any applications for new or modified FTZ sites to the FTZ Board. Port staff is currently working with a number of prospective FTZ users, with the potential that the required information will be ready to submit the applications to the FTZ Board during the Board's summer recess. Authorizing the Port Everglades Chief Executive/Port Director to submit the applications before the Board returns from summer recess will expedite the FTZ Board approval process. Port staff will advise the Board of any applications submitted under this authority.

Robert C. Jacob, Jr., Foreign-Trade Zone Operator, Port Everglades Department, (954) 468-0214