A Small Community’s Experience -Foreign Trade Zone-

Where is Rantoul?

Rantoul / Chanute Context Selected for closure in the acres Closed in 1993 Inactive airfield at the time of closure Rural Area Airfield was reopened for general aviation. Village is in the process of receiving final transfer of property in the next 6-9 months.

Site 7 of FTZ 114 FTZ 114 is a multi-modal zone – rail, air, river, road – serving the West Central, Central and East Central Illinois Region, providing over 2 million square feet of warehousing and distribution space available for General Purpose Zones usage and four Sub-zone sites. Site 7 Approximately 360 acres located on the former Chanute Air Force Base – Adjacent to airport – Interstate 57 – Canadian National Railroad Site 7

Why Set up a Foreign Trade Zone Economic Development Tool – for base redevelopment – Regional economic development Complements our Enterprise Zone and Tax Increment Financing District Had Industries at the time that were interested in taking advantage of FTZ benefits

Process Started Process in 2006 Worked with Champaign County Economic Development Corporation Looked at existing Zones to partner with – Peoria – Decatur – Closest CBP Port of Entry 60 miles or 90 minutes driving time Peoria was agreeable

Process Met with FTZ officials to determine approach – Expansion of FTZ 114 – Developed agreement to have FTZ 114 provide support and assistance during the FTZ Expansion Application in early 2007 Worked with Miller and Company P.C.

Process Developed application under the Traditional Site Framework -2007/2008 – Expansion Application Requirements – General Site Information Justification – Site Specific Information Location Description Transportation Infrastructure Physical Security Businesses that occupy site – Maps – Letters of Intent

Process Upon Completion of Application – Pre-Filing Review by an FTZ examiner to ensure application meets basic requirements – Pre-Docketing FTZ Board Meeting –9/2008 – Not technically required but useful to expedite process – Informative discussion to emphasize importance of project – Answer questions about application Congressional Meetings- 9/2008 – Letters of support to be sent to agencies involved in the approval process (Treasury, Commerce, Customs) Formally File and Federal Register Notice (3/6/2009) – 60 Day Public Comment Period – Review of Application by the FTZ Examiner

Process Application Approval Interagency Review and Approval – Customs – Treasury – Commerce Federal Register –October 16, 2009

What Happened &Next steps Difficult Economic Conditions in 2009/2010 – Firms that had expressed interest had changed focus or were gone Re-energizing – Working with Regional Economic Groups – New Mayor / Administrator/ Economic Development Director – Marketing – Reengaging Local Business business in region that could potentially use