Kissimmee moves to secure customs office, foreign‑trade zone and airport control tower

KISSIMMEE — City staff reported progress on multiple airport initiatives the commission identified as priorities for the next 12–18 months.

Mike, a city staff member, told the commission the next step for a proposed U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) office at Kissimmee Gateway Airport is a state endorsement. “We’re waiting on the state of Florida to give us the endorsement,” he said. Once the governor’s office signs off, the city will submit the federal application and begin site, funding and interlocal discussions with the county and a local fixed‑base operator (FBO) to host the office.

Staff also described a related push to establish a foreign‑trade zone near the airport, which would offer tariff and tax advantages to businesses that locate there. Mike said the trade‑zone work is “an application that we have to do with the feds” and that the city is working with partners on an implementation plan.

Separately, commissioners discussed an airport air‑traffic control tower. Staff described seeking federal funding and advocacy as the mechanism to secure construction dollars. Several commissioners noted the upgrade would be a major step toward positioning the airport for manufacturing and international freight activity.

Commissioners placed the customs/CBP application and foreign‑trade zone on the management list; they recorded the control tower among the management priorities they want staff to pursue with federal advocacy.

Next steps described in the retreat: obtain the state endorsement for the CBP application; prepare a federal submission for CBP and foreign‑trade zone approval; identify potential funding and property arrangements with county partners and FBOs; and pursue federal appropriations or grants for a control tower.

The airport initiatives were recorded among the commission’s top and high priorities during a ranking exercise conducted at the retreat.