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Consulting Services Agreement with Miller & Company P. C. May 5, 2008 Page 2 DISCUSSION A Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) is a duty free secured area within the United States, where merchandise can be admitted without the immediate payment of U.S. Customs duties. Benefits include greater control of cash flow since no duties are levied until goods leave the FTZ. If merchandise is re-exported, no duties are ever levied. Goods may be repackaged, relabeled, tested, modified or repaired within the FTZ. The Santa Ana Foreign Trade Zone consists of 92 acres of commercial and industrial land within the Santa Ana city limits. The location of the 92 acres can be modified to better serve local businesses through an application process to the Federal Foreign Trade Zones Board and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Miller & Company will assist the City of Santa Ana with the creation of a step by step process to simplify the utilization of Foreign Trade Zone benefits available to Santa Ana businesses. Miller & Company will also restructure the existing Foreign Trade Zone area for the purpose of allowing additional businesses to take advantage of the program and assist with marketing efforts. By improving the FTZ marketing strategy and by simplifying the utilization process for businesses, Santa Ana will be in better position to retain and attract companies to the city. Staff is requesting approval of the contract with Miller and Associates to begin the work for better utilization of the City's Foreign Trade Zone. FISCAL IMPACT Funds are available in the Merged Economic Development Account (account no. 570-932-6291). APPROVED AS TO FUNDS AND ACCOUNTS: ~` Francisco Gutierrez ~, Executive Director ~~~ Finance and Management Services Agency SGH/LS/RW/mlr H:\ACTION ITEMS\COUNCIL\2007 CC\JT CC-CRA ConsultingSrvsAgreeMillerCo OS-05-08.doc 80B-2 Economic Development Manager Community Development Agency