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County touts Foreign Trade Zone 25 expansion and off-port opportunities; new manager to lead outreach
Summary
Port Everglades officials and county economic staff outlined new plans to expand awareness and usage of Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) 25 across Broward County, appointing Crystal Permanente as FTZ manager and planning an ambassadorship program to reach businesses and municipalities.
Broward County officials on May 20 highlighted efforts to expand use of Foreign Trade Zone 25, emphasizing that FTZ benefits extend beyond the port property and can support off-port businesses through duty deferral and other trade advantages.
Joe Morrison, addressing the commission, said FTZ 25 is the seventh-largest FTZ for export goods by value and noted the local zone has 18 operators (12 off-port) and supports roughly $4.3 billion in export value, $4.2 billion in import value and about 318 jobs. Under the alternative site framework, Morrison said the county's FTZ can encompass up to 2,000 acres anywhere in Broward County.
Morrison and others announced an FTZ ambassadorship program due to launch in August that will coordinate with the county's Office of Economic and Small Business Development (OESBD) to educate municipalities and local companies about FTZ eligibility and potential duty savings for firms that import or export and pay more than $25,000 annually in duties.
The commission and staff introduced Crystal Permanente as the new FTZ manager, who described her background in similar roles and her priority to work with community partners and local businesses to make use of the FTZ more accessible. "I accept the challenge," Permanente said, describing outreach and concierge-style services that FTZ 25 can provide to operators and off-port businesses.
Commissioners said the county should connect FTZ outreach to broader economic development goals and municipal partners so benefits accrue to local communities as well as firms that operate through Port Everglades.
Ending: County staff will begin the FTZ ambassador outreach in coordination with OESBD and municipal partners; commissioners asked for briefing materials and brochures to circulate to city partners and business groups.
