The establishment this week of U.S. Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 295 to serve South-Central Pennsylvania was applauded by U.S. Reps. Bill Shuster (R-PA) and Keith Rothfus (R-PA) and U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA), who previously championed the zone’s creation.
The Foreign-Trade Zones Board approved FTZ 295 on Monday in an order signed by Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. The zone encompasses the counties of Bedford, Blair and Cambria.
“We were able to establish this Foreign-Trade Zone because everyone at the county, state, and federal level worked together with one shared goal – improving our region’s economy to benefit the people of Southwestern and Central Pennsylvania,” Shuster said. “I look forward to seeing the positive impact this will have for our businesses, and I thank everyone that was involved in getting this across the finish line.”
Rothfus said that the establishment of FTZ 295 is a victory for Western Pennsylvania because it will facilitate international business opportunities while enabling the region to be more competitive.
“Many were involved in this effort at the federal, state, and local levels, and I am thankful for their dedication,” Rothfus said. “FTZ 295 is going to play an important role in stimulating increased economic activity, creating jobs, and facilitating trade in our region.”
Pennsylvania includes seven other FTZs, which allow employers in the region to pay reduced tariffs on their manufacturing inputs.
“Businesses across Pennsylvania have used foreign-trade zones for decades, but — before today — Johnstown area businesses were unable to use them,” Toomey said.