Jim CoppingerThe Chattanooga Chamber Foundation has received approval for the expansion and reorganization of Chattanooga's foreign-trade zone to include all of Hamilton, Marion, Grundy, Warren, Sequatchie, Bledsoe, Rhea, Meigs, Bradley, Polk and McMinn counties.
"Expansion of Chattanooga's foreign-trade zone represents a regional, collaborative approach to promoting employment opportunity and economic growth throughout Southeast Tennessee," said Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger in a statement.
Companies regularly importing to the U.S. in high volume benefit from locating to an FTZ, which reduces importing costs and simplifies processes to more efficient inventory control systems.
"By providing companies throughout the region access to foreign-trade zone benefits, we can better facilitate exports as well as provide tools for local companies to compete in the global economy," said Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke.