The Decatur Foreign Trade Zone #245 was established at Decatur Airport in 2000 with Decatur Park District being named as the “Zone Grantee”.

In the summer of 2005, the Decatur Park District and the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County (EDC) entered into an agreement in which the EDC would act as the administrator of the Zone.  The EDC has just recently received approval to activate the grant designation.

Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs) are designated sites where special customs procedures apply. Foreign trade zones in the United States are comparable to so-called free trade zones in many countries, though procedures vary widely from country to country.” Foreign goods may be admitted to an FTZ without being subject to customs duties and certain excise taxes. FTZs allow deferred payment of duties until goods are entered into the commerce of the United States. Under zone procedures, the usual customs entry procedures and payment of duties are not required on foreign merchandise until it actually enters customs territory for domestic consumption. Foreign merchandise that is re-exported is not subject to U.S. customs duties. Domestic goods admitted into a zone, in zone-restricted status (for storage, destruction, or export), are considered exported when admitted to the zone for other government agency requirements, excise tax, and duty drawback.

For more information contact the EDC offices.