Manufacturers in Doña Ana County who want to take advantage of federal foreign trade zone benefits can now do so from any location within Doña Ana County’s 3,804 square miles of jurisdiction. At the July 8 regular meeting of the Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners, Assistant Doña Ana County Manager Chuck B. McMahon notified the commissioners that all the federal approvals necessary to streamline Foreign Trade Zone applications countywide have been approved
The designation is expected to draw additional new businesses and jobs to Doña Ana County, particularly as they relate to warehousing and distribution. In the past, the FTZ consisted of three site-specific acres concentrated near the Santa Teresa Port of Entry. The expanded zone, McMahon said, is likely to provide the same benefits to the north and central areas of the valley.
“The benefit of the designation is that it allows new companies that locate within Doña Ana County to secure Foreign-Trade Zone Status for warehousing and distribution operations within approximately 30 days from the time an application is accepted for filing,” McMahon said. “The benefit is available to existing businesses within Doña Ana County, as well.” He said manufacturing operations also will benefit from streamlined procedures to secure approval in a much faster time frame than was previously available, as well as reduced fees. Designated as Foreign-Trade Zone No. 197, Doña Ana County is the first of New Mexico’s 33 counties to secure the county-wide option.
