Trade growth avenues eyed

Community economic development officials in St. Lawrence County say they will reach out over the next few months to companies importing or exporting goods that could benefit from an extension of Ogdensburg's foreign trade zone.

"There's an opportunity for growth here with about six companies," said Jason A. Clark, Business Development Corporation for a Greater Massena director. "There are import-export operations in Massena that would definitely benefit."

The Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority will submit an application to the U.S. Foreign Trade Zone board to restructure its zone so it can be applied to any company within a 60-mile radius or 90-minute drive of the zone's current location at the port of Ogdensburg. St. Law-rence County lawmakers on Monday voted to support OBPA's application, saying it could provide tremendous cost savings to companies importing raw materials.

Imports to foreign trade zones are subject to reduced tariffs and duties once they enter the United States. Payment of duties can be delayed while goods are stored in the zone.

Not all companies in St. Lawrence County will benefit if OBPA's application is approved, but it could help those that import raw materials to make products or companies exporting products, said Wade A. Davis, OBPA executive director.

"Anything associated with manufacturing, electronics, there's a wide variety of applications for this," Mr. Davis said.

Donald C. Alexander, Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency chief executive officer, said Watertown's foreign trade zone has been in place for more than 20 years, but has until recently posed only a limited benefit.

"But in the very recent past there has been a resurgence in companies dealing with the global economy," Mr. Alexander said. "That means goods and services being shipped out and shipped in with considerably more frequency than was done 20 years ago."

Mr. Alexander said the JCIDA has hired a consultant to take a fresh look at how to best use the zone to businesses' advantage.

"It is essentially one more arrow in the quiver of anyone who does economic development. It won't work for everyone, but it might work for two or three companies. Even if that's the case, we've done a good thing. The idea is to eventually expand it to include any future development we're going to do at the airport, for example. It could be a great help to some businesses."