The Port of Laredo, Texas -Your partner for business opportunities- Known locally as “Los Laredos”, Laredo and Nuevo Laredo are actually one city divided only by the Rio Grande. Originally settled by the Spaniards in 1755, Laredo/Nuevo Laredo became the first "official" Port of Entry on the U.S./Mexico's border in 1851. Now, the La- redo Customs District handles more trade than the ports of Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and West Texas combined. The Port of Laredo is the Number One Inland Port on the U.S.-Mexico border, generating more than $214 Billion in trade, ranked the Number Three Customs District in the U.S. by value of shipment---generating over $303 billion in international trade. In addition, the Port of Laredo is the nation's Number One land border gateway by value of imports and ex- ports, ranking first in the nation in 2017, transported across the border by highways, rail- roads and pipelines. As the Port of Laredo gains momentum in the global economy, the LEDC continues to fos- ter the economic and industrial development of our community. The LEDC plays a vital role in keeping our local economy strong and vibrant and takes a leading role in promoting the Port of Laredo as the international logistics hub to the Americas. At the center of the primary trade route connecting Canada, the United States and Mexico, and the gateway to Mexico's burgeoning industrial complex, Laredo and Nuevo Laredo offer markets, business opportunities and profit potential which business and industry simply cannot find anywhere else. Laredo is the only U.S./Mexico border city strategically positioned at the convergence of all land transportation systems. Mexico's principal highway and railroad leading from Cen- tral America through Mexico City, Saltillo and Monterrey, the industrial heart of Mexico, converge at Laredo to meet two major U.S. rail lines, Inter-state Highway 35 and other roads which fan outwards to the urban centers and seaports of Texas, and beyond to Northern States and Canadian Provinces including Illinois, Michigan, New York and Ontar- io. For the last several years, Mexico's economic reforms, increased U.S./Mexico trade and cross border production sharing combined to spur Laredo's growth as never before. As the fastest growing city east of the Rocky Mountains, and the most competitive NAFTA crossing, Laredo's bright economic future is vibrant. Laredo is the place to be! FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Laredo Economic Development Corporation P.O. Box 2682 (616 Leal St.) Laredo, Texas 78044-2682 Phone: (956)722-0563 Fax (956)722-6247 1-800-820-0564 E-mail: [email protected] www.laredoedc.org Copyright ©2018 Laredo Economic Development Corporation TABLE OF CONTENTS 1- Laredo Economic Development Corporation 2- City of Laredo Tax Abatements 3- Industrial Sites 4- Industrial Parks Map 5- Economic Activity (2012-2018) 6- Vehicles Crossing thru the Port of Laredo, Location, and Population 7- Weather Overview 8- Municipal, Federal, and State Government 9- Current Tax Rates 10- Permit Information 11- Utilities 12- Transportation 13- Education 14- Workforce / Community and Recreation Facilities 15- Commercial Facilities & Service Business / Trade Organizations 16- Major Employers 17- Industrial Parks Contacts 18- Maps: Laredo Regional Highway System & Port of Laredo Primary 19- Trade Routes 20- Web Sites 1 Laredo Economic Development Corporation The Laredo Economic Development Corporation, formed in November 1966 as Laredo Development Foundation, is a private non-profit corporation dedicated to the economic and industrial development of the Laredo economy. Nationally certified and recognized by the American Economic Development Council, the prime focus of the LEDC is industrial attraction, workforce development, assistance to small business start-ups, as well as expansion and retention of existing industry. Mission Statement THE MISSION OF THE LAREDO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IS TO PROMOTE AND FOSTER THE ECONOMIC AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE LAREDO REGION. LEDC activities are structured under four divisions, three operating and one internal: • Industrial Attraction Division • Business Development Division • Administration Division • International Business Assistance Center—MileOne The Industrial Attraction Division is responsible for maintaining economic data for prospects, selecting target industries, encouraging new industries to locate in Laredo/Nuevo Laredo and helping new companies with the site-selection process and start-up operations. The Business Development Division is responsible for preparing economic studies and forecasts, campaigning for needed educational resources and infrastructure projects and for assisting the border trade advocates and promoting border initiatives. The Administration Division is responsible for contracts, adhering to strict financial procedures, annual audits, preparing financial statements, board minutes and staff reports as well as performing special tasks assigned by the Board. Also responsible for staff training and maintaining membership in the International Economic Development Council and the Texas Economic Development Council as well as others. The MileOne - International Business Assistance Center (IBAC) will (1) promote entrepreneurship and international trade for the Laredo and Webb County South Texas region, (2) encourage FDI by facilitating the process of establishing a business in the U.S., and (3) assist U.S. companies who want to expand their business services into Mexico. As a support center, the IBAC will assist and guide companies through the process of establishing or expanding their business in a foreign country. City of Laredo Tax Abatements 2 Industrial Sites 3 FOREIGN TRADE ZONES Foreign-trade zones are secure areas under supervision of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that are considered outside the customs territory of the United States for the purposes of duty payment. Located in or near customs ports of entry, they are the U.S. version of what are known internationally as free trade zones. Authority for establishing these facilities is granted by the Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) Board under the Foreign-Trade Zones Act of 1934, as amended (19 U.S.C. §§81a-81u), and the Board’s regulations (15 C.F.R. Part 400). Foreign and domestic merchandise may, subject to FTZ Board and CBP regulations, be moved into zones for operations not otherwise prohibited by law involving storage, exhibition, assembly, manufacturing, and processing. Domestic goods moved into a zone for export are considered ex- ported upon entering the zone for purposes of excise tax rebates and drawback. The benefits ob- tained through FTZ procedures help encourage U.S. activity, employment and value added, often in competition with foreign alternatives. FTZ sites and activities remain within the jurisdiction of federal, state and local governments and agencies. On August 29, 2012, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Foreign Trade Zone Board approved the reorganization of the City of Laredo, Foreign-Trade Zone 94 service area to include all of 3,376 square miles of Webb County, under the Alternative Site Framework (ASF). Laredo's FTZ has now expanded from the original 7 sites and 4 Temporary Boundary Modifications to in- clude all of Webb County, Texas. According to the FTZ Board in 2018 there were 195 active FTZ programs in the United States. Laredo is the 13th largest Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) for warehouse and distribution in the U.S. for exports activity; surpassing cities like Boston, Detroit, and El Paso. In Laredo’s FTZ No. 94, there are 4 active Magnet FTZ sites plus various Usage Driven sites with over 40 FTZ Operators. Magnet sites in Laredo as follows: • SITE Laredo International Airport (500 acres) • SITE Killam Industrial Park (500 acres) • SITE Unitec Industrial Park (682 acres) • SITE Embarcadero Industrial Park (831 acres) TOTAL 2,513 Acres INDUSTRIAL PARKS & BUILDING AVAILABILTY There are currently over 49 active industrial parks in Laredo with a range of prices and variety of industrial sites. Source: Laredo International Airport 4 Industrial Parks OpenLaredo.com is the City of Laredo's Open Data GIS Portal that includes Commercial, Industrial and Residential development areas for the City of Laredo. FREE TRADE NAME CITY LIMITS ACRES ZONE Crossroads IN NO 36.11 Del Mar Industrial Park IN NO 66.63 Diamond IN 10.57 El Pico Development IN El Portal Industrial Park IN NO 465 Embarcadero Industrial Park IN YES 19.04 Emeral Industrial Park IN 61.24 Garmar Park IN 13 Gutierrez Industrial Park IN 5.01 Interamerica Distribution Park IN NO 234.75 International Commerce Center IN YES 221.02 International Distribution Park IN NO 215 Khaledi Industrial Park IN Killam Industrial Park IN YES 502 La Barranca Industrial Park OUT YES 886.47 Laredo Distribution Center IN NO 103.04 Laredo International Air Park IN 12.76 Laredo International Airport IN 1346.37 Las Lomas Industrial Park IN 78.73 Las Minas Industrial Park IN YES 59.09 Mann Road Commercial Park IN 29.67 Millennium Industrial Park IN NO 116.13 Source: City of Laredo's Open Data GIS Portal FREE TRADE NAME CITY LIMITS ACRES ZONE Milo Distribution Center IN NO 262.32 Missouri Pacific Railyards IN NO 330 Modern Industrial Park IN NO 75.16 ND Hachar Industrial Park IN 76.28 North America Industrial Park IN North Webb County Industrial Park IN 224.48 Octavio Salinas Industrial Park IN NO 25.26 Pan American Business Park IN NO 183.04 Paso del Norte Industrial Park IN NO 28.22 Paso del Norte Industrial Park Unit II IN