Becoming an FTZ No. 79 Zone Operator 

If you become a zone operator the benefits of foreign trade zones can have a tremendous impact on your business.

Obtaining status as an FTZ No. 79 Zone Operator of a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) No. 79 Zone Site requires, at a minimum, the following steps: (This is not intended as a comprehensive list of everything that you will need to do, but is intended as a source of information for you to begin the process. Please refer to the appropriate federal regulations under which your company will operate.)

1. Make a written request to Foreign Trade Zone No. 79 Board, Inc. requesting Zone Operator status, with a brief explanation of your proposed operations, including whether you intend to operate the Zone Site for your own use or intend to operate the Zone Site for the benefit of other companies in need of foreign trade zone procedures--Zone Users. If you have potential Zone Users lined up, identify your potential Zone Users.
2. Sign a Zone Operator’s Contract with the Grantee (City of Tampa) and FTZ No. 79 Board.
   • Requires a legal description of your site and a blueprint or drawing of your site.
   • Requires that you have Commercial General Liability insurance in amounts acceptable to the Grantee and naming the Grantee and FTZ No. 79 Board, as additional insureds.
3. Develop a zone schedule that describes all internal rules and regulations for the Zone Site and lists all rates and charges for use of your Zone Site, which includes, for example, fees for handling FTZ paper work and merchandise storage charges.
4. Develop an inventory control system to account for FTZ activity.
5. Develop an FTZ Procedures Manual that explains the inventory control system.
6. Meet with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to discuss the nature of the Zone Site operations, what will be necessary by way of security at your Zone Site, and the amount of the necessary FTZ Operators Bond.
7. Obtain your FTZ Operators Bond.
8. Provide CBP information about key personnel who will have access to the inventory control system and the physical FTZ inventory.
9. Train your personnel in FTZ procedures and develop a process for submitting an annual report of FTZ activity at your Zone Site to FTZ No. 79 Board.
10. Make a written request to FTZ No. 79 Board and CBP for Zone Site activation.  Zone Site activation requires a letter of concurrence from FTZ No. 79 Board.

NOTE:
Neither the Grantee, FTZ No. 79 Board, nor Port Tampa Bay are responsible for determining whether your proposed operations are compliant with relevant FTZ, CBP, or any other state and/or federal agency’s laws and regulations.

For more information on the benefits of foreign trade zones, contact us!