World Trade Center Savannah and Gold Honey Bean @ VLCIA 2015-08-18

The Development Authority begins tonight with a presentation by Leigh Ryan, Director of Trade Services and Foreign Trade Zone 104, World Trade Center Savannah. According to WTC Savannah,

A foreign trade zone is a federally approved location within the United States, which is considered outside of US Customs territory where domestic and foreign merchandise may be placed without formal customs entry and without payment of duties and taxes. Subzones are special-purpose facilities for companies unable to operate effectively at public zone sites. Foreign trade zones are usually located in or near Customs ports of entry, at industrial parks or terminal warehouse facilities. Their purpose is to attract and promote international trade and commerce.

WTC has more on that page, but never actually says where FTZ 104 is.

Mary Carr Mayle, SavannaNow, 31 May 2015, World Trade Center Savannah expands FTZ 104,

Georgia has three FTZs — in Atlanta, Savannah and Brunswick.

World Trade Center Savannah has been the federal grantee — or administrator — for FTZ 104 since 2012 when the Savannah Airport Commission transferred the grant of authority of the trade zone after nearly 30 years.

The Savannah-based FTZ has just been approved by the Foreign-Trade Zones board at the U.S. Commerce Department to expand to include six new counties: Candler, Emanuel, Jenkins, Tattnall, Toombs and Treutlen.

FTZ 104 currently services Bulloch, Bryan, Chatham, Columbia, Effingham, Evans, Liberty, Long, Richmond and Screven counties, bringing to 16 the number of counties within their service area that can take advantage of the FTZ’s competitive edge in international trade.

“Foreign-Trade Zone 104 has already proven to be a valuable asset in attracting foreign direct investment projects and helping regional businesses grow,” said World Trade Center Savannah President and CEO Trip Tollison. “By adding to the zone, World Trade Center Savannah can help businesses and communities grow in these counties.”…

While it sounds like a single entity, FTZ 104 is not a single location. It actually encompasses a designated system and operation within a number of businesses and locations around the region, including Tumi Luggage in Vidalia, Alcoa (formerly Firth Rixson) in Liberty County and the Interstate Center in Bryan County. Those are considered sub-zones, formally known as Alternative Site Framework services areas

Here’s the agenda.

Valdosta-Lowndes Development Authority
Tuesday, August 18, 2015 5:30 p.m.
Development Authority Conference Room/103 Roosevelt Drive
Monthly Meeting Agenda

General-Business

  • Call to Order
  • Invocation
  • Welcome Guests

    Presentation-Leigh-Ryan-World-Trade-Center-Savannah

    Financial

  • Review Compiled Balance Sheet and Income Statements for July, 2015

    Community Relations Marketing Update —Meghan Duke

  • 2015 Business Plan Update
  • Community Relations
  • Marketing Activities

    Project Report —Stan Crance

  • Project Gold
  • Project Honey
  • Project Bean

    Existing-Industry —Stan Crance

  • Existing Industry Visits
  • Existing Industry/Expansion Projects

    Executive Director’s Report —Andrea Schruijer

  • Competitive Analysis Study Update
  • RFI Response
  • Upcoming Events

    Attorney-Report

    Adjourn-General-Meeting-Into-Executive-Session

    Adjourn-General-Meeting

    Mission of the Valdosta Lowndes Development Authority
    “Create an environment to attract new industry and promote the growth of existing industry to drive job creation and capital investment.”

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