By Kevin Lavery, WKAR News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-839465.mp3
LANSING, Mi – Lansing now becomes only the second Michigan city to offer 24-hour federal customs and inspection services as an international port of entry.
The airport is helping to develop a network of industries that will function as a foreign trade zone to process goods in and out of the region. Lansing businessman Chris Holman points to alternative energy products such as wind turbines as an example.
"A lot of these things are made in Europe presently, and they're coming into the United States, and now can come in through here," Holman says. "Which means in turn, when we start manufacturing these, we'll be exporting them from here. That's a huge boon, too."
The customs inspection station is part of a larger investment strategy for the airport. Last year, the airport completed a 1,500-foot extension of its main runway.