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Dan Carson outlines Windsor Locks’ foreign trade zone activity, funding and business benefits
Summary
Dan Carson, the commission administrator, told the EIDC that Foreign Trade Zone 71 has recent applicants (including Fairview Architectural and REM Sales), that FTZ activation requires customs security and local steps, and that $19,750 is currently identified for FTZ-related expenses.
Dan Carson, who said he serves as the commission’s administrator, told the Economic and Industrial Development Commission (EIDC) that Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) 71 is active across multiple counties and has seen recent local applicants and users.
Carson said the FTZ approval process is effectively two steps: initial site approval through the FTZ board with customs verification of geography, followed by local activation where companies present security plans, lists of authorized personnel and visitor logs for customs review. "I get a letter from customs... they also agree it's in Hartford County," Carson said, describing the paperwork that precedes activation.
Why it matters: Carson said FTZ activity can speed deliveries, reduce tariff exposure and create local jobs through warehousing and light assembly. He described REM Sales’ experience storing machines in a bonded facility and turning what had been offshore work into local jobs. "We literally had instances where they would sell a machine and could deliver it same day," Carson said.
Carson outlined how FTZ fees are handled: fees paid by applicants are split between the administrator and the commission, and those funds must be spent on FTZ-related expenses and be auditable by the FTZ board. He told the commission they currently have $19,750 earmarked for FTZ expenses and recommended adding basic FTZ guidance to the town/EIDC website to reduce caller inquiries and attract applicants.
Members asked about recent tariff-rule changes and timing risks for importers. Carson said new tariff language can fix a duty rate at the date of entry, which created urgency for some companies to clear shipments through customs. He also listed recent or potential FTZ users — Fairview Architectural (Bloomfield), REM Sales, and companies linked to Pratt & Whitney/RTX — and said approvals often move quickly when geography and federal law permit.
Carson recommended the commission continue attending the FTZ association and legislative outreach events; he said he will attend a conference in Portland, Maine, and will front the cost if necessary, then submit an expense report so the full commission can vote for reimbursement when a six-member quorum is present. The commission reiterated it cannot approve expenditures without a quorum.
Next steps: Members asked staff to confirm that FTZ funds are tracked separately in the town budget and to add concise FTZ information to the EIDC web presence. Carson offered to provide electronic documents and a brief summary of expenses if he attends the upcoming conference.
