On April 5, 2007, FTZ # 272 was granted by the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Board to Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation.  FTZ #272 general-purpose zone project consists of seven sites within the Pennsylvania Counties of Northampton and Lehigh.  The seven sites total 1,927 acres with four located in Lehigh County and three located in Northampton County.   LVEDC sought the designation in 2005 to help local companies compete globally but began investigating the process as far back as 2000.

The goal of the FTZ is to promote economic development through investment and jobs by maintaining and attracting U.S.-based operations of firms participating in international trade. 

Prospective Operators/Users are encouraged to locate in a designated general-purpose zone location designed for multiple uses by multiple companies.  If relocation into the general-purpose zone is not feasible, subzone status may be an option for specific FTZ uses. 

The general-purpose zone boundaries also may be expanded or modified to other locations to accommodate multiple prospective Operators and Users located throughout the community. Letters of interest should be submitted to LVEDC to determine the feasibility and nature of a potential boundary expansion/modification.

Uniform FTZ fees are set forth in the FTZ #272 Zone Schedule.  Other charges and costs associated with the operation of a specific FTZ operation are the responsibility of the Zone Operator.

FTZ Resources

For more information, please dial Jarrett Witt at 610-266-0523 or email him at jwitt@lehighvalley.org

Principal Benefits - This explains the benefits of the FTZ program
Sites - These are the existing FTZ sites
Savings Calculator- Click here to find out how much locating to an FTZ zone could save your company
Terms and Definitions - Explains the meaning of different FTZ related terms
Links - Directs you to further FTZ-related resources