Presentation

City of Mesa — City Council (2026-06-08)

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U.S. Foreign-Trade Zone Program
Jaye O’Donnell, Economic Development Director
Chris Molnar, Economic Development Administrator

FTZ Program Key Provisions
• Federally authorized
• Encourages U.S. activity 
and competitiveness
• Allows businesses to pay 
reduced, delayed or no 
customs duties on 
foreign merchandise
• Secure areas under 
supervision of CBP
• Considered outside the 
customs territory of U.S. 
for purposes of duty 
payment 
• Administered by the 
Foreign-Trade Zones 
Board (FTZB) comprised 
of the Commerce and 
Treasury departments

FTZ No. 221
April 1997
Board Order 0883:
Grant of Authority
Zone Established
Williams 
Gateway 
Airport
Service Area

FTZ No. 221
Phoenix-Mesa 
Gateway 
Airport
January 2008
Board Order 1538:
Zone Reorganization
Service Area

FTZ No. 221
Mesa Gateway 
Airport
July 2022
Zone Reorganization/
Expansion under
Alternative Site
Framework
Service Area

Eligible Activities
Merchandise may be assembled, exhibited, cleaned, 
manipulated, manufactured, mixed, processed, relabeled, 
repackaged, repaired, salvaged, sampled, stored, tested, 
displayed and destroyed.
Production activity – any operation that changes the nature or 
status of goods before formally entered into U.S. Commerce 
(must be specifically authorized by the FTZ Board)
Retail trade is prohibited.

User Benefits
FTZs are especially valuable for companies that:
• Export finished goods from the FTZ
• Assemble products using imported components
• Manage high-volume international trade
• Are building or expanding U.S. manufacturing and/or distribution sites, 
or looking to optimize their supply chain footprint
• Efficiency
• Financial Flexibility
• Global Competitiveness

User Benefits
• In 1991, the Arizona State legislature approved a lower assessment 
ratio for activated FTZ or subzone sites.
• Most sites (commercial/industrial uses, utility companies, shopping 
centers) are designated as Class 1 property
• FTZ activated sites eligible for property tax reclassification to 
Class 6
• Noncommercial historic property, FTZ properties, Military Reuse 
Zones, renewable energy manufacturing

Public Benefits
• Job Creation and Retention
• Economic Growth and Investment
• Public Infrastructure and Community Development
• Enhancing U.S. Competitiveness
• Supporting Supply Chain Resilience
• Environmental and Economic Efficiency
• Government Oversight and Public Interest

Roles and Responsibilities
• Foreign-Trade Zones Board (FTZB)
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
• Zone Grantee (City of Mesa)
• Zone Operator/User
• Others

FTZ Application Process
• Research / FTZ Consultant Selection / Cost-Benefit Analysis
• Request for City of Mesa Letter of Support
• Pre-Application Meeting
• Application Preparation
• OED Application Review and Submittal
• FTZ Board Staff Review / CBP Concurrence
• Operator Agreement
• Activation** 
 
 
**Production Authority – separate approval required**
• Reporting

MGC Pure Chemicals America, Inc.
• MGC Pure Chemicals America, Inc. (MPCA)
• 26.07-acre site, east of Signal Butte on Pecos Rd
• Expanding Mesa headquarters facility, primary plant for 
North American operations
• Key supplier to semiconductor companies, primarily in 
the U.S.

Foreign Trade Zone No. 221

Discussion
Questions / Comments