Agenda - Council - 10/22/2019 - Laserfiche WebLink

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An EDA may accept conveyances of land from all other public agencies, commissions, or other units of government, if the land can be properly used by the EDA in an economic development district. Foreign Trade Zone Minnesota Statute 469.101, Subdivision 11 authorizes EDAs to operate and manage Foreign Trade Zones. Foreign or "Free" Trade Zones (FTZ) were established to facilitate international trade by serving as "safe havens" and can increase a company's cash flow by reducing costs associated with import restrictions and duties. FTZs can be warehouses, storage tanks or fenced - in areas near harbors, airports or industrial parks. Foreign and domestic goods are brought into a zone where they can be stored, sold, exhibited, broken up, repacked, assembled, distributed, sorted, graded, cleaned and mixed with foreign and domestic products or used in a manufacturing process. There are two types of foreign trade zones. General zones are located at or adjacent to a U.S. Customs Port of Entry (i.e. Minneapolis -St. Paul International Airport or Duluth Port) and subzones which are technically part of the general zone but are physically removed from it. General zones typically have multiple users occupying a facility or warehouse site, while "subzones" are special-purpose facilities operated by individual firms that cannot be accommodated within a general zone and are engaged in large-scale manufacturing. The major goods being produced in subzones are automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, tractors, women's garments, and refined oil. Although a zone is operated as a public utility and can be managed by either a public or private corporation, it is treated as foreign territory and considered to be in foreign commerce, therefore providing benefit to the users. The usual formal Customs entry procedure and payment of duties is not required on the foreign merchandise unless and until it enters Customs territory for domestic consumption, in which case the importer ordinarily has a choice of paying duties either on the original foreign material or the finished product. In addition, quota restrictions do not normally apply to foreign goods stored in zones. Domestic goods moved into a zone for export may be considered exported upon entering the zone for purposes of excise tax rebates and drawback. In some cases companies can avoid both import duties on an item and state and local ad valorem taxes when goods are exported from the zone. In most cases, Federal taxes and excise taxes can be deferred on the goods until they enter the U.S. marketplace. Public Facilities The EDA may operate and maintain a public parking facility or other public facility to promote development or prevent the emergence of slum and blight. Frequently, these powers are exercised in cooperation with other units of government, including Cities, counties and school districts. Projects may include City halls, fire stations, libraries, community centers, administration buildings, and many others. For example a City may want a community center for its residents. In order for the project to occur, the EDA sells revenue bonds, constructs the community center, and leases the community center to the City. The lease is paid by an annual appropriation from the City's general fund to 19