Article: First Coast businesses expect boost from being in foreign trade zone

11-May-2011 They will get fast-track process; trade zone will encompass 5 counties.

The Florida Times Union/Jacksonville.com – May 11, 2011

A newly expanded foreign trade zone for Northeast Florida will give businesses a fast-track process for obtaining the benefits that come from being in the zone.

JaxPort on Wednesday announced the U.S. Department of Commerce and its Foreign Trade Zone Board approved the port authority's application for a zone that covers Duval, Nassau, Clay, Baker and Columbia counties.

JaxPort officials have pushed to expand the zone to foster the growth of Northeast Florida businesses that would use the port for importing and exporting their goods.

The Northeast Florida zone is the first of its kind to win approval in Florida and the 31st in the nation, said JaxPort spokeswoman Nancy Rubin. There are 272 foreign trade zones across the country...

Read the complete article here... http://jacksonville.com/business/2011-05-11/story/first-coast-businesses-expect-boost-being-foreign-trade-zone

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