Foreign-Trade Zone #189 was established on January 15, 1993 by the Kent-Ottawa-Muskegon Foreign-Trade Zone Authority (KOM-FTZ) to offer FTZ benefits to West Michigan businesses.

In 1999, Van Andel Global Trade Center became the grantee-administrator of the Kent-Ottawa-Muskegon Foreign-Trade Zone.

A foreign-trade zone is a designated area within the United States where commercial merchandise receives the same Customs treatment it would if it were outside the commerce of the United States. Merchandise may be held in the Zone without being subject to customs duties and other ad valorem taxes.

This tariff and tax relief is designed to lower the costs of U.S.-based operations engaged in international trade and thereby create and retain the employment and capital investment opportunities that result from those operations.

For more information on foreign-trade zone services in Kent, Ottawa and Muskegon counties, visit www.komftz.org or call (616) 331-6810.