Colorado Real Estate Journal - July 1, 2015
In June, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker approved the application for the town of Limon - Foreign Trade Zone under Alternative Site Framework as Foreign Trade Zone No. 293. This approved Foreign Trade Zone, submitted by the town of Limon and Lincoln County, includes a service area including all of the counties of Adams and Arapahoe and major portions of the counties of Lincoln, Elbert and Morgan. This will be the first primarily rural zone in the state of Colorado. The Limon FTZ also will be able to serve subzones outside the service area in the state of Colorado and looks to serve all of eastern Colorado. “I am excited about the potential for economic growth this opportunity will provide to Limon and Lincoln County,” said Julie Coonts, mayor of the town of Limon. “Having received the FTZ designation we are moving forward with great enthusiasm to bring worldwide trade to our rural community.” The application received strong support from the Colorado Office of Economic Development, Gov. John Hickenlooper, Sens. Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner as well as eastern Colorado counties and local economic development organizations. “The creation of a Foreign Trade Zone for Limon and Lincoln County will attract new investment and create new jobs,” said Bennet. “In addition to boosting the local economy, the zone will provide opportunities for growth for the rest of the eastern plains as well. We are happy that we were able to work with the Department of Commerce and support the town of Limon’s efforts to achieve this designation and look forward to seeing future successes.” “Trade creates jobs and grows economies,” added Gardner. “As a longtime advocate for rural Colorado, I’m glad to that the Limon Foreign Trade Zone has been approved, and I look forward to the many economic benefits that it will bring to Limon and Lincoln County as well as Adams, Arapahoe and Morgan counties.” “The Limon Foreign Trade Zone is a great additional economic development tool for the eastern plains," said Hickenlooper. “This new designation further strengthens the region and help attract new businesses to the area, as well as grow existing businesses and create jobs in eastern Colorado.”