The Gary/Chicago International Airport has made “tremendous progress” in the last few years, its executive director said, and he doesn’t expect that to stop.
“Our airport began cargo service operations in quarter four of 2020,” said Executive Director Dan Vicari. “It has been incredibly successful, providing our airport with another competitive offering to bolster the Northwest Indiana economy.”
The airport on Tuesday hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for about $24 million in infrastructure enhancements. The project is a multi-phase plan, with the first phase installing a Jet-A fuel line to service the airport’s large capacity storage tanks.
The first phase will also create and upgrade the airport’s sanitary sewer system and create a cargo logistics apron to allow eight additional cargo planes to operate out of the airport.
In January 2023, Gov. Eric Holcomb included $9.8 million in his state budget plan to build an on-site fuel facility at the airport.
Vicari said the project is funded through multiple sources, including about $10.12 million from federal Community Project funding, which he said was secured by U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland. About $2 million of those funds will be used for the sanitary sewer enhancements.
The remaining funds will be used to construct a cargo logistics ramp.
“This economic engine will not only allow Northwest Indiana and the city of Gary to grow when it comes to commercial logistics in cargo,” Mrvan said, “but it allows for us to grow in personal and business travel, and it allows us to grow in the community.”
About $20 million of Community Project funding was included in the 2023 fiscal appropriations package, and the airport was the largest recipient.
In April 2023, Vicari said the Federal Aviation Administration ranked the airport third in Indiana for cargo operations, largely because of UPS, which began cargo operations in 2020 and renewed its lease in 2022.
“This growth over the past several years would not have been possible without these strong relationships,” Vicari said Tuesday.
The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers will construct the sanitary sewer enhancements, Vicari said.
Col. Kenneth Rockwell, commander with the USACE’s Chicago district, said the group’s involvement shows the federal government’s dedication to the Gary/Chicago Airport. Rockwell said he understands that the project is a major driver of economic growth.
Improving the airfield ensures the airport can accommodate increased cargo traffic and allows it to capitalize on vast economic opportunities, Rockwell said.
“The success of this project hinges on strong partnerships among local, state and federal entities,” he added.
Millicent Macon, a Gary/Chicago Airport Authority board member, said the airport is proud of the growth it’s had in the past few years. The infrastructure enhancements are critical for the airport, Macon said.
“(The airport) is now an incredible and major economic engine that supports jobs and industries throughout the region,” she added.
Matt Saltanovitz, vice president of domestic business operations for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, said companies worldwide want to come to Indiana, and improvements like those at the Gary airport make growth more likely.
The $24 million project is a reminder of how important it is to invest in growth, Saltanovitz said.
“Companies are expanding and relocating here,” he said. “And they are continuously citing our infrastructure as a reason for making that move and choosing Indiana.”
