The Capital Region Airport Authority recently recorded the first substantial international shipments of materials through Port Lansing directly utilizing the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) program at the Port Lansing Global Logistics center, located at Capital Region International Airport.
“The first substantial shipments of product are moving through Port Lansing and the reviews by companies who are using the port are good,” said Robert Selig, executive director of the Capital Region Airport Authority. “We have many more Mid-Michigan businesses and industries who are committed to use Port Lansing in the future. Port Lansing and our FTZ adds real value to the Capital Region International Airport as a billion dollar plus community asset.”
One of the first shipments recorded by Port Lansing was a full container of material parts for specialty trucks and heavy vehicles that came through Redmer Strategic Products and Services of Lansing.
“We are very excited about using Port Lansing,” said Randy Redmer, president of the Redmer group of companies. “It is so much more convenient to ship internationally through Lansing than Detroit or another port of entry. We have established new relationships with customs officials here. Communication has been very positive. Port Lansing will make all our international shipments cheaper, faster and more efficient in the future.”
“Mid-Michigan business and industries are discovering that it is quicker and cost competitive to ship materials and products from overseas directly to our region through Port Lansing,” said Brent Case, vice president of International Business with the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce. “These first shipments through Port Lansing are historic moments for the economic development of our region.”
Port Lansing and FTZ No. 275 are centered at Capital Region International Airport and are authorized by the Foreign Trade Zone Board in Washington, DC and US Customs & Border Protection to serve businesses involved in global commerce throughout an eight county region including Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, Jackson, Shiawassee, Livingston, Gratiot and Isabella Counties.
FTZ No. 275 is one seven in Michigan and one of 253 active FTZ’s nationwide. Port Lansing and the FTZ was established by the Capital Region Airport Authority as part of the Authority’s overall strategy to increase the region’s capacity for global commerce.
Air Lift Company of Lansing, a leader in aftermarket air suspension products since 1949, recently received a shipment of materials through Port Lansing. Air Lift Company is a family-owned business with 70 employees, and has sold air suspension products worldwide that are used on more than 500 different types of vehicles.
“Port Lansing was easy, and now that we have used customs processing services here, Air Lift will be shipping through Port Lansing again,” said Air Lift Company executive Larry Finney.
To learn more about the Foreign Trade Zone program and Port Lansing, visit www.portlansing.com [3]