CompanyWeek highlighted Foreign Trade Zone No. 293... Regardless, Joe Kiely and Limon’s brain trust aren't looking back, they’re gazing forward, to a day when the city’s FTZ is a gateway for products and components, imported by companies region-wide or utilized by a growing cadre of manufacturers across multiple industry sectors. It’s ambitious, out-of-the-box thinking, equal to the opportunity also available to manufacturing companies operating in one of America’s fastest growing regional economies. 

One correction... in 2015 the retail sales per capita was $85,000.

From Company Week 

Limon FTZ No. 293 was spotlighted in the February 2016 issue of Colorado Municipalities, a publication of Colorado Municipal League in its International Issue. Click on the image to download the complete article.

The Eastern Colorado city wants manufacturers to call the Plains home.

From Denver Business Journal

On June 11, 2015 the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker, approved the application for the Town of Limon, Colorado - Foreign-Trade Zone under Alternative Site Framework as Foreign Trade Zone No. 293. This approved Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ), submitted by the Town of Limon and Lincoln County, includes a Service Area including all of the counties of Adams and Arapahoe and major portions of the counties of Lincoln, Elbert and Morgan. This will be the first primarily rural zone in the state of Colorado. The Limon FTZ will also be able to serve sub-zones outside the service area in the state of Colorado and looks to serve all of eastern Colorado.

"I am excited about the potential for economic growth this opportunity will provide to Limon and Lincoln County," said Julie Coonts, Mayor of the Town of Limon. "Having received the FTZ designation we are moving forward with great enthusiasm to bring worldwide trade to our rural community."

The application received strong support from the Colorado Office of Economic Development, Governor John Hickenlooper, Senators Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner as well as eastern Colorado counties and local economic development organizations.

"The creation of a Foreign Trade Zone for Limon and Lincoln County will attract new investment and create new jobs," said Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet. "In addition to boosting the local economy, the zone will provide opportunities for growth for the rest of the eastern plains as well. We are happy that we were able to work with the Department of Commerce and support the town of Limon’s efforts to achieve this designation and look forward to seeing future successes."

"Trade creates jobs and grows economies," said U. S. Senator Cory Gardner. "As a longtime advocate for rural Colorado, I’m glad to that the Limon Foreign Trade Zone has been approved, and I look forward to the many economic benefits that it will bring to Limon and Lincoln County as well as Adams, Arapahoe and Morgan counties."

"Congratulations and job well done, Limon," said U.S. Representative Ken Buck. "Earning Foreign Trade Zone status for the Hub City and surrounding area is an accomplishment of which you should be proud."

"I am pleased that Arapahoe and Adams counties will be included. It will increase opportunities to grow their economies and attract jobs for the region," said U.S. Representative Mike Coffman.

"The Limon Foreign Trade Zone is a great additional economic development tool for the eastern plains," said Governor John Hickenlooper. "This new designation further strengthens the region and helps attract new businesses to the area, as well as grow existing businesses and create jobs in eastern Colorado."

The Town of Limon FTZ provides an additional tool for these primarily rural areas to attract global businesses to their communities.

"It’s exciting to think about the impact that this designation will have for this region of Colorado," said Adams County Commissioner Charles "Chaz" Tedesco. "With access to every Interstate, rail lines and two airports, Adams County has a lot to offer businesses that will benefit from this designation."

"Lincoln County Economic Development Corporation couldn't be happier to see the official approval for the Town of Limon Foreign Trade Zone!" said Troy McCue, Executive Director. "This important step represents the beginning of great progress and development as our region becomes eligible to host import partners making their products readily available to the U.S. and global markets while creating jobs in our rural communities. We look forward to the countless economic benefits to be realized in the region!"

"This foreign trade zone designation is about increasing the competitiveness of Colorado companies in the global marketplace. We will continue to give our businesses every advantage to succeed," said Ron von Lembke, Chair, Adams County Economic Development.

"This FTZ designation adds another tool to our ‘economic development tool box’ in Morgan County! It is a step in the right direction in helping us be more competitive in attracting and retaining business. Thank you to the Town of Limon and Lincoln County for taking the lead on this initiative, it is a true win for Colorado when counties join forces to make things happen!" Kari Linker-Nation, Executive Director, Morgan County Economic Development Corporation.

Download Complete News Release and Background Materials  

The Town of Limon was notified the hold that was placed on the Limon Foreign Trade Zone application on December 24, 2014 by the Foreign Trade Zone Board (FTZ Board), U.S Department of Commerce, has been lifted. This allows the federal review process to resume.

The hold was placed on the application when the FTZ Board received a letter from the Port of Denver, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), dated December 17, 2014 stating CBP did not believe that the Service Area defined in the application met the regulatory adjacency requirement of being within 60 miles or 90 minutes of the Port of Denver.

In cooperation with the CBP, the Service Area mapping and description was revised. These revisions did result in a few areas that were previously included being not included in the revised mapping. The new Service Area no longer includes the Towns of Akron and Simla as well as some rural portions of the counties of Morgan, Lincoln, Elbert and Washington. These areas would still be eligible for subzone status when the application is finally approved. The Service Area now includes all of the counties of Adams and Arapahoe and portions of Elbert, Lincoln and Morgan.

On March 10, 2015, CBP expressed that the Port Director LaShanda Jones agreed that the revised maps met the regulatory adjacency requirement and that Limon should submit revised materials to the FTZ Board.

Limon submitted the revised Service Area mapping and description to the FTZ Board and received notification that the hold had been removed on March 11, 2015. This action allows the formal federal review to continue towards approval.

If you have questions about the application, please contact Dave Stone or Joe Kiely at the Town of Limon by calling Limon Town Hall at 719-775-2346.

Download Complete News Release

An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) Board by the Town of Limon, Colorado to establish a foreign-trade zone at sites in Limon, Colorado, adjacent to the Denver U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) port of entry, under the alternative site framework (ASF) adopted by the FTZ Board (15 CFR Sec. 400.2(c)). The ASF is an option for grantees for the establishment or reorganization of zones and can permit significantly greater flexibility in the designation of new "subzones" or "usage-driven" FTZ sites for operators/users located within a grantee's "service area" in the context of the FTZ Board's standard 2,000-acre activation limit for a zone project. The application was submitted pursuant to the provisions of the Foreign-Trade Zones Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 81a-81u), and the regulations of the Board (15 CFR part 400). It was formally docketed on August 7, 2014. The applicant is authorized to make the proposal under Colorado statute 7-49.5-102.

The proposed zone would be the 3rd zone for the Denver CBP port of entry. The existing zones are as follows: FTZ 112, Colorado Springs, CO (Grantee: Colorado Springs Foreign-Trade Zone, Inc., Board Order 281 , 49 FR 44936, 11/13/84); and, FTZ 123, Denver, CO (Grantee: City and County of Denver, Board Order 311 , 50FR 34729, 08/27/1985).

The applicant's proposed service area under the ASF would be Adams, Arapahoe and Morgan Counties, Colorado and portions of Elbert, Lincoln and Washington Counties, Colorado, as described in the application. If approved, the applicant would be able to serve sites throughout the service area based on companies' needs for FTZ designation. The application indicates that the proposed service area is within and adjacent to the Denver U.S. Customs and Border Protection port of entry.

The proposed zone would include two "magnet" sites: Proposed Site 1 (141.16 acres)- Big Sandy industrial area, 1055 Immel Street, Limon; Proposed Site 2 (280.3 acres)- East Airport industrial area, 21650 State Highway 40, Limon. The ASF allows for the possible exemption of one magnet site from the "sunset" time limits that generally apply to sites under the ASF, and the applicant proposes that Site 1 be so exempted.

The application indicates a need for zone services in the Limon, Colorado area. Specific production approvals are not being sought at this time. Such requests would be made to the FTZ Board on a case-by-case basis.

In accordance with the FTZ Board's regulations, Christopher Kemp of the FTZ Staff is designated examiner to evaluate and analyze the facts and information presented in the application and case record and to report findings and recommendations to the FTZ Board.

Public comment is invited from interested parties. Submissions shall be addressed to the FTZ Board's Executive Secretary at the address below. The closing period for their receipt is October 13, 2014.

Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-day period to October 28, 2014.

A copy of the application will be available for public inspection at the Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, Room 21013, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230-0002, and in the "Reading Room" section of the FTZ Board's website, which is accessible via www.trade.gov/ftz.

For further information, contact Christopher Kemp at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (202) 482-0862.

March 20, 2014 -- The Town of Limon, in cooperation with Lincoln County, Colorado, has submitted an Application for the Establishment of a Foreign-Trade Zone under the Alternative Site Framework to the Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) Board for review as a final stage prior to formal filing with the FTZ Board.

This proposed zone addresses a service area including seventeen (17) counties in eastern Colorado including Lincoln, Adams, Arapahoe, Baca, Bent, Crowley, Elbert, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Logan, Morgan, Otero, Phillips, Prowers, Sedgwick, Washington and Yuma. As the Grantee, the Town of Limon is making this application to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board for authority to serve sites located within the Town and in those named counties based on businesses' trade-related needs.

Limon and Lincoln County initiated this application, with support from the other sixteen counties in the service area, in order to prepare our communities to not only export our goods outside of the United States, but to create manufacturing and distribution jobs within the service area. Approval of this application will provide eastern Colorado communities a tool available in other areas of the country to use in carrying out their individual economic development plans. Politically, the application received strong support, including letters from U.S. Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet, U.S. Representative Cory Gardner, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.

It is expected that the review will be complete in the very near future, with the Town advising when the formal submission has been filed. If you have questions about the application, please contact Dave Stone or Joe Kiely at the Town of Limon by calling Limon Town Hall at 719-775-2346

Town of Limon, Colorado: During an April 4th meeting, the Board of Trustees of the Town of Limon passed a resolution supporting an application seeking to gain Foreign-Trade Zone designation overlaying Town properties, and perhaps as well, serving Lincoln County. A Foreign-Trade Zone is a legal status conferred on a defined geographic area that is designed to serve the convenience of commerce and international trading interests.

Limon, throughout its history, has been a center of transportation. Located about 70 minutes east of Denver and Colorado Springs, the Town of Limon is known as Hub City. Because of its junction with five major highways, two railroads and an airport, seeking Foreign-Trade Zone status adds value to existing Town assets at the airport and feedlot properties.

Regionally, Limon is located centrally within growing energy and agriculture economy stretching from Mexico to Canada along the Ports-to-Plains Corridor. Interstate 70, U.S. 40/287, U.S. 24, Colorado 71 and Colorado 86 make the Town of Limon globally accessible. Already 1.2 million trucks a year pass through Limon with freight moving north, south, east and west. The Union Pacific Railroad and Kyle Railroad pass through Town serving potential world-wide Foreign-Trade Zone users.

"Limon is in unique position in the transportation system, including highway and rail connections outside the congestion of the Denver area," said Julie Coonts, Mayor of the Town of Limon.

Exports are an important part of Colorado's economy. Success in exporting Colorado goods is dependent upon participating in global trading relationships. A Foreign-Trade Zone is a unique tool to encourage vast opportunities. Past Colorado FTZ users have been Kodak, Intel and Apple. Other key exporting U.S.-based FTZ companies are John Deere, Boeing and GE.

The Colorado legislature passed Senate Resolution 08-005 in 2008 that stated "...we recognize the commercial and employment benefits that FTZs can provide, and we further recognize that Colorado must capitalize on all opportunities to expand its national and international trade and build a dynamic workforce in an increasingly competitive global economy." Shortly thereafter, Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas committed over $700 million USD to four Colorado sites; all of which are designated Foreign-Trade Zones.

With this resolution, a Foreign-Trade Zone is designed to serve the convenience of commerce and international trading interests. The Town of Limon will begin the process of making application for a Grant of Authority as well as make herself available for alternative discussions with existing Colorado FTZ Grantees, Denver and Colorado Springs. It will be a long process needing community support, but success will add value to the area's economic development toolbox.

According to Town of Limon Mayor Julie Coonts regarding Foreign-Trade Zone designation, "it can be the catalyst for creating new jobs and growing our local economy while providing a benefit to the economies of Colorado and the entire Ports-to-Plains Region." 

The purpose of the Guidebook is to provide guide for potential users, operators or economic developers regarding purposes, benefits, rules, regulations, fees, application processes and forms associated with Limon FTZ No. 293.

Guidebook for Limon FTZ No.293

Zone Schedule for Limon FTZ No. 293