IN THE ZONE

Greetings,

Welcome to the inaugural addition of In the Zone, the official monthly newsletter of the Greater Maricopa Foreign Trade Zone (GMFTZ). In the Zone is just one of our new resources dedicated to reporting GMFTZ news and activity, policy updates and stories of FTZ-related economic development growth in the West Valley.

GMFTZ (Zone #277) was created in 2010 to develop, grow and promote economic development in Western Maricopa County. Since the inception of the GMFTZ in 2010, companies in the Zone, created a total of 33,852 jobs and invested more than $2.6 billion dollars into the West Valley. GMFTZ is home to globally recognized companies such as Red Bull, Ball Corporation, REI, Dick’s Sporting Goods, UPS, Nestle, Ross, Five Below and others.

The success and growth of GMFTZ is a product of longstanding partnerships and collaboration between West Valley cities and towns. As the president of the GMFTZ Board of Directors, I am committed to continuing that same spirit of collaboration and to ensuring the highest degree of transparency and communication between GMFTZ Leadership and West Valley cities and partners. 

The success and growth of the GMFTZ is a product of longstanding partnerships and collaboration between West Valley cities and towns. As the president of the GMFTZ Board of Directors, I am committed to continuing the same spirit of collaboration and to ensuring the highest degree of transparency among West Valley cities and partners. 



The future of GMFTZ’s success will be determined by our ability to adapt and evolve in response to an ever-changing global economy. As one of the fastest growing Foreign Trade Zones in the nation, GMFTZ is more than ready for the challenge.

We invite you to join us in our journey to grow the GMFTZ and increase economic opportunities in the West Valley for decades to come. 



Allison Grigg

GMFTZ

President

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

WESTMARC launched a Workforce Success Series panel discussion webinar in 2023 focused on providing tips and best practices for businesses to enhance their talent attraction and talent retention strategies. These panel discussions are broadcast via Zoom, are free to attend, and are recorded and posted on the WESTMARC website for future viewing. 

The January 18, 2023, focused on pre-employment training partnerships that businesses can have with education and training partners, and included representatives from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Equitable Advisors, and Sun Health. 

The March 15, 2023, webinar addressed “Expanding the Talent Pool” by considering intentional outreach to populations of persons with disabilities, persons with background issues, and military veterans. Representatives from Titan Engineered Solutions, Arizona Industries for the Blind, Progressive Roofing, and Sonoran Technology provided video testimonials. 

The next panel discussion is scheduled for May 17 and will include businesses that provide “Recruiting and Retention Tips,” employee benefits that have led to increased success in talent attraction and staff retention. The webinar is free, but registration (Register Here) is required.  

And don’t forget to sign up for the WESTMARC newsletters (Sign Up) to receive weekly “Workforce Wednesday” updates on additional employer-focused services that WESTMARC and partners are rolling out. 

The City of Buckeye is hosting a “Reduce the Commute Job Fair” for Manufacturing and Energy Industry businesses, focused on Southwest Valley residents, on April 19. More information and an employer registration link is available on their website.

EDUCATION & TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

ZONE INFO

Dear Industry Partners,

In response to industry’s requests for additional resources to assist companies seeking to comply with the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) and Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1307), CBP has published several new documents on its public-facing website.  

Today, CBP published the following documents:

Revised frequently asked questions (FAQs) - Learn More

Best Practices for Applicability Reviews - Learn More

Guidance on Executive Summaries and a Sample Table of Contents - Learn More

Other resources, including CBP’s Operational Guidance for Importers and the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force Strategy are available on [cbp.gov/trade/forced-labor/UFLPA]cbp.gov/trade/forced-labor/UFLPA.

CBP is hosting two informational events: the Forced Labor Technical Expo (March 14-15) in Washington, DC and the 2023 Trade Facilitation and Cargo Security (TFCS) Summit (April 17-19) in Boston, MA. Registration for both the Technical Expo and the Trade Summit is open; register now and save the dates.

For additional information on the Forced Labor Technical Expo or the Frequently Asked Questions, please contact [email protected].

CBP looks forward to continued collaboration with the trade community to enforce the UFLPA and to combat forced labor more broadly. Thank you for your partnership.



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