Gyy vision 12 16 draft

A NEW VISION FOR THE GARY / CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

CONNECT

A NEW VISION FOR THE GARY / CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

FOREWORD

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Reimagining a heritage of connecting assets with opportunity, people with jobs, nature with itself, and Northwest Indiana with the world.

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On January 27, 2014, the City of Gary and the Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority entered into a public-private partnership with AFCO/AvPORTS for the management of the Airport and development of surrounding land. This historic partnership maintains public oversight over one of the City’s most important assets while bringing private sector expertise and innovation into Gary to help spur economic development.

Regional and local stakeholders have conducted numerous studies and evaluated potential opportunities to maximize the value of the Airport and its impact to local communities. The process leading up to this document entailed a thorough audit and evaluation of outcomes in collaboration with groups who have conducted previous work at the Airport and sharpened recommendations based on current market realities. The AFCO/AvPORTS team has worked to engage these important stakeholders and, in partnership with government officials, have outlined this comprehensive vision for the Airport and surrounding areas.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Executive summary

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Context

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Megaregion

Third airport

Northwest Indiana Areas of opportunity

Airport

Surrounding lands

Supporting infrastructure

Natural assets

Community development

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Connecting the dots

52

Acknowledgments

56

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executive summary

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This visioning document lays a foundation for reconnecting the Gary/Chicago International Airport and land around it to drivers of economic growth and prosperity.

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The vision results from the review of numerous prior economic and development studies on Gary and, more importantly, from extensive recent public and private discussions with business professionals, academics, citizens, and elected leaders.

The Public Private Partnership (“PPP”) between the City of Gary and AvPORTS / AFCO that is the origin of this visioning document is focused on investment and development activity on and around the airport. However, it is the goal – and expectation - based on extensive evidence of airport centric economic development activities in other cities, that success in the areas presented herein will complement and accelerate other important Gary based initiatives underway in the areas of education, housing, public safety, workforce development and job creation.

Underpinning our vision is that while Gary was founded for a singular purpose that supported a singular local business – steel; and it prospered for decades, the world has become one of interconnectivity and diversification. Gary needs to reconnect regionally, nationally, and globally building on its strengths, strengths that both propelled its success in the past and will better position for the future.

In order to connect Gary to opportunities driven by regional influences and beyond, our vision is to create a business friendly environment for firms that primarily require and support rail, highway, marine and air oriented modes of transport. This is perhaps Gary and Northwest Indiana’s greatest asset: it is the nexus which brings all of these robust transportation modes and infrastructure networks together. Such firms will compliment and support existing industrial and commercial uses in the area, but ultimately will generate local demand for additional development such as office, hospitality, and retail facilities at and around the airport.

The following pages outline five areas of focus that comprise our vision for Gary’s future: The airport: the runway extension and railway relocation project completion will support the return of sustainable passenger air service to Gary and increased general and corporate aviation activities. It’s about 8,900 feet of pavement connecting our community to global opportunities.

Surrounding land: fallow land will be put into productive use – both in the form of industrial/commercial development and as open space and protected lands that serve as a community resource and amenity. Obsolete vacant structures will be razed and land redeveloped. It’s about activating an envious array of local assets.

Supporting infrastructure: improved roadways and enhanced access to industrial and commercial sites north of the airport will unlock a significant amount of largely underutilized land and lakefront to redevelopment for both commercial and community use. It’s about making connections possible.

Natural assets: high quality wetlands and similar environmental resources will be integrated with development that employs sustainable practices. It’s about connecting tomorrow’s quality of life with today’s planned decision-making.

Community development: expanded partnerships and strategic use of available resources will help ensure that the people of Northwest Indiana benefit most from the next chapter in their region’s history. It’s about connecting residents with the jobs and opportunities of the future.

Gary has a proud history and people whose innovation, hard work and resiliency enabled this region to be both the envy of the nation during the good years and the most resilient of places during more challenging times. With the right ideas, leadership and commitment, we can achieve this vision. And we will.

11 Executive Summary

10

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context

The Gary/Chicago International Airport is ideally situated at the nexus of dense multi-modal transportation networks, in the nation’s third largest metropolitan market, and in the heart of the Great Lakes megaregion.

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The Gary / Chicago International Airport is ideally positioned within a two-hour flight to major North American markets.

15 Context

megaregion

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Part of the Chicago metropolitan area, the Gary / Chicago International Airport is within easy reach of the central business district and the eleven Fortune 500 companies that call it home.

17 Context

the third airport

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Northwest Indiana is true to its reputation as “the crossroads of America,� with unsurpassed road, rail, airport, and marine port facilities supported by an educated, hardworking and diverse population of 800,000.

19 Context

Northwest indiana

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areas of opportunity

By forging a unified vision that encompasses the airport, surrounding lands, infrastructure, the natural environment, and community institutions, Northwest Indiana is poised to leverage these remarkable assets into sustained growth and prosperity.

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airport: connect greater chicago to global market

ready for takeoff A recent study concluded 3,000,000 passengers a year would find the Gary / Chicago International Airport more convenient than Midway or O’Hare.

The Gary/Chicago International Airport (GYY) will leverage its superior location for servicing Greater Chicago to become the “airport-of-choice” for VIPs and ordinary travelers alike, who value service quality, security, privacy, convenience, and hassle-free air travel, all packaged and priced competitively.

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As the ideally located third leg of the Chicago Airport System, Gary/Chicago International Airport’s primary role is to serve as a premier private and corporate aviation gateway and reliever airport for O’Hare and Midway and as such a sustainable economic engine for the Greater Northwest Indiana Community. It will continue to connect a variety of users in the global aviation network and marketplace with downtown Chicago and Northwest Indiana. It will be especially attractive to those global and domestic VIP users who place a premium on privacy, security, timeliness and high quality service.

The Gary/Chicago Airport (GYY), with its strategic location and relatively unrestricted access, is positioned to be a world-class corporate reliever airport for America’s third largest city. To accomplish that aim, the Airport places an emphasis on customer driven amenities such as plane side pickup, canopied aircraft parking, and staff focused on exceeding customer expectations. Other enablers and facilitators of this vision include the extensive, world-class, rail/highway/pipeline transportation infrastructure surrounding the airport; and the considerable supplies of energy and aviation fuel, immediately adjacent. In addition GYY’s low cost basis, and global intermodal access, make this location a sweet spot for the expanding just-in-time manufacturing and drop-shipping/order-fulfillment market operations.

GYY’s commercial airline service role within Chicago’s three airport system will primarily focus on niche charter and air carrier service to select leisure destinations.

Some of the carriers that fall into this category of service are Allegiant Air; Apple Vacations; Frontier Airlines; Spirit Airlines; and Vision Airlines. Private and public casino charters to and from destinations (both domestic and international) represent yet another potential air service opportunity.

airport

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INITIATIVES

Meeting global demand.

Being regionally competitive.

Raising awareness.

Complete the runway.

As air traffic congestion builds in the Chicago Airport System, greater demands and requirements will be made of GYY if it hopes to capture a segment of the growing business.

Offering additional services such as Customs as well as accommodating larger aircraft with the extended runway will better position the Airport for the future.

Both O’Hare (ORD) and Midway (MDW) already offer extensive commercial air service options, but these are not always the most accessible, convenient or affordable for residents of Northwest Indiana, the Southern suburbs of Chicago, or visitors to the area. A recent passenger leakage study conducted by AvPORTS determined that over 3,000,000 passengers a year would find GYY more convenient than Midway or O’Hare if desirable air service were offered here. For these reasons, GYY can and should serve a complementary role in the 3-Airport System by pursuing niche market opportunities it can more effectively serve than ORD and MDW.

Many people both in and outside of the region are unaware of all that GYY currently offers and the potential of what it could offer in the future.

Attracting new tenants, passengers and users will require increasing awareness and sometimes reintroducing the Airport to those who have not witnessed the transformation that has already occurred and is still ongoing.

The extension of the main runway at the Airport needs to be completed without further delay as it is crucial to the realization of this vision. As regional air traffic congestion builds, a longer runway at Gary will accommodate larger aircraft and allow users to travel greater distances. As a result, market opportunities will expand. With the extended runway, GYY is more attractive for expedited freight handlers as well.

Develop an air service strategic plan.

Galvanize stakeholders.

Community stakeholder outreach should be undertaken with a goal of establishing GYY as a leading organization identifying potential choke-points, and for laying the foundation for producing the skilled personnel and other resources that would be needed to support the just-in-time evolution of this Airport vision.

This outreach effort will be globally targeted at Northwest Indiana and Chicago bound business travelers, regionallybased corporate executives, government dignitaries, shippers, suppliers, manufacturers, governmental agencies, and gaming related travelers.

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A plan for a viable Customs and Border Protection Inspection Facility needs to be forged by all key stakeholders and immediately pursued so as not to lose an important “firstmover” advantage. A customs facility makes GYY attractive for an

An Air Service Development and Marketing Action Plan needs to be developed as quickly as possible so that “best fit” markets and the passenger and cargo carriers best suited to serving them - can be targeted for sustained coordinated action on multiple fronts. GYY’s air service marketing should also support the Fixed Based Operators to build their business with corporations and individuals that have a need for their specialized air service.

Completion of runway extension

Return of commercial passenger service

Operational cash flow without subsidy

Profitability and 75,000+ annual operations

2015

2017

2019

2023

Pursue customs.

gyy is home to nearly 100 aircraft and supports over 20,000 operations per year

expanded market of users from corporate, to charter to freight handlers. By developing a use fee driven customs process GYY can serve not only its based clientele, but also transient customers who seek expedited access to the U.S. while avoiding congestion they experience at other regional airports.

airport

CHALLENGES

highest and best use Improved Airport Road Extended runway

Taking advantage of direct access to runway Space for passenger terminal expansion Hangars, maintenance facilities, and support for private aviation Allowing for future crossrunway expansion

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6% The transportation and logistics sector revenues grew nearly 6% year on year.

surrounding lands: connect innovation, industry, and distribution

This region has what every region wants: access.

Access to major interstate highways, fittingly known as the “crossroads of America.” Access to the nation’s network of railroads. Access to a soon-to-be completed 8,900-foot runway. Access to one of the worlds largest fresh bodies of water, and via the St. Lawrence Seaway, to the Atlantic Ocean’s shipping lanes. The future is leveraging this access into prime development opportunities.

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Industries that provide the transportation of raw materials and finished products to other parts of the country and around the world can provide the area with direct connectivity to the global marketplace and capture significant economic resources from the transportation, logistics, and manufacturing business sectors. A sizable industry presence already exists in Northwest Indiana, pointing to the region’s competitiveness in this area and positioning it to further increase economic synergies and efficiencies by growing this sector. While this can serve as the unifying theme of “what this place does,” in order to make it fully successful, a diversified development strategy that includes supporting businesses and community spaces must be pursued.

Four specific land use types are recommended for immediate pursuit: Transportation/Logistics: Rail-related uses are envisioned with a specific focus on maintenance, repair and rail-oriented business that complement the existing extensive Class I railroad operations in Gary. In addition, waste to energy and materials/ equipment reuse operations are also considered appropriate uses for these areas.

Retail: Retail and commercial uses are most appropriate here to support the operations of new businesses, amenities for employees, and new visitors to the area.

Marine: Marine based/port needs for bulk commodities and niche cargo has the greatest opportunity in this area.

Public Space: Open space, public use, and lakefront access are important aspects of our vision. Beyond protection of the land itself, hiking and biking trails, bird watching, fishing, and observation areas for train and airport activities are envisioned in this zone.

surrounding lands

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INITIATIVES

Reintroducing Gary to outside investment.

Matching labor pool with coming jobs.

Upgrading infrastructure to meet growing demand.

Gary must reposition itself as a vibrant and economically competitive place to invest and do business. With visionary leadership in place at the City, private sector partners investing in Gary’s renewal, and federal and state funded initiatives currently underway, the City is primed for reinvention.

Gary has immediate access to a talented and able workforce ready to access the full spectrum of mainstream and specialized jobs.

Continuing educational programs and specialized job training opportunities need to be aggressively marketed to prospective employees to best address growing demands new developments can bring and to support employer needs.

As the Airport continues to modernize, so does the need for neighboring infrastructure to accommodate growing demands. Improving local roads, access routes and other critical infrastructure to handle heavy duty construction standards and strengthen connectivity to places where people and goods need to reach will provide Gary with unparalleled access to the rest of the world.

The immediate area must be improved with stateof-the-art roads bringing access to one of the world’s leading highway networks, and expanded commuter rail stations to provide enhanced interconnectivity throughout the area.

cooperation among agencies To successfully attract outside investment, Gary must present a unified narrative that draws on the strengths of public infrastructure and private development.

Meet with existing major employers and businesses in Gary.

Assemble a team and materials for a “road show” that will target potential development prospects that form our vision.

Meet with state and federal decision makers to advance the need for surface (road) infrastructure improvements as primary focus.

The team will include Gary public officials and private sector participants. American and US based operations of foreign firms will be contacted. Foreign embassies and sovereign wealth funds will be included in the outreach.

Initial areas of focus will be independently identified tenant/user prospects and those who have inquired about land available within our PPP. We will seek to integrate these development opportunities with investors interested in EB-5 opportunities.

Combining these two groups will result in new development with permanent job creation.

Improvements to Buffington Harbor roadways, Airport Road, and Clark Road will be advanced and expanded to increase access to the northwestern area of our PPP land. Ultimately, direct Interstate Highway access to a fully upgraded Clark Road is envisioned to provide grade separated access to the northern terminus of Clark Road. Marine port and high speed rail initiatives will also be discussion points in these meetings.

New development, in excess of $10 million, begins construction

New permanent jobs in area exceed 200

New construction exceeds $50 million

2015

2018

2025

Directly inform them of our efforts and solicit their support - financially and professionally – for areas that can have a direct positive impact on their business. Existing City of Gary and PPP partner relationships with law firms, investment banks, planners, and engineering/construction firms will be called upon to expand their commitment to Gary in conjunction with pursuit of their business goals in Gary.

31 surrounding lands

CHALLENGES

Dynamic mix of uses Warehouse / logistics Commercial flex Retail Hospitality Entertainment Open space

Reinforcing existing successful land use patterns Organizing and clarifying use types Preserving green space and creating public access Attracting new uses for transportation, retail, marine, and public space

Industrial manufacturing Industrial commodities Preserved Airport support 32

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On a typical day in the future, some Chicago-bound commuters will take the water taxi in Buffington Harbor because they enjoy making Lake Michigan a part of their daily routine. Others, after disembarking an express train, will take a shuttle from the multimodal hub at Clark Station to the Gary/Chicago International Airport where a non-stop flight to the Caribbean awaits them.

FULL SPEED AHEAD Canadian National Railway Company is investing over $140 million to rehabilitate and expand neighboring Kirk Yard, bringing hundreds of new jobs in 2015.

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Bustling movements of trucks and trains alike will move raw materials and byproducts to manufacturers within and beyond the site perimeter. Thousands will live, work and pass through this sector because of the investments in infrastructure that brought it to life.

Since the early 1800s when settlers began migrating West on horse and wagon in ever larger numbers, Indiana became a pre-eminent place for “accessing America.”

The Northwest Indiana region in particular emerged as a multimodal hub of activity ferrying people, raw materials and finished products to, from and beyond Greater Chicago. This is our history. Effectively retooled, this is our future. When properly equipped with the right network of basic physical resources, this region thrives.

Successfully reactivating and unlocking the future potential of the area requires enhancing the area’s infrastructure.

supporting infrastructure

supporting infrastructure: connect a hub of transportation networks

Upgrading the existing transportation and utility access to developable areas.

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Developable land, owned by the airport, the city and private operators, is situated along important access routes within the publicprivate partnership P3 zone. Creating heavy truck access that is unimpeded by height restrictions is required for many of the industrial functions that will help to activate this area. In addition, utilities, water, sewer and broadband improvements are needed to service

INITIATIVES

expected new businesses. These upgrades must be completed while keeping in mind existing traffic for the casino, a need for coordinated activity among several private entities that operate on the lake and the coordinated investment from the state and Federal government.

Re-align and extend Buffington Harbor Drive.

Buffington Harbor Drive will be improved to provide better access to Majestic Star casino customers. As part of this improvement, we intend to create a separate heavy truck lane for access to industrial areas directly south of the casino.

Improve Airport Road for multimodal use.

multimodal nexus The airport is ideally situated at an interconnected, multimodal transportation nexus. Connecting rail, maritime shipping, and surface trucking, the site is a unique and active relay point for goods.

Airport will be upgraded to beautify the airport area and to encourage development along this access point.

In addition, the improvements will enhance safety for biking and walking access along the road as well as help to accommodate green solutions for storm water runoff for the road.

Improve Clark Road.

Clark Road is an important access lane for heavy trucks that require oversized loads to the industrial businesses along the lake. Any improvements on Clark Road will be completed with sensitivity to the number of rail lines that cross Clark Road and the protected nature preserves that border it.

Create multi-modal train hub at Clark Road Station.

By activating this station with better parking and lighting, we can enhance the station both as a destination for everyday rider access as well as a connection to the airport with a shuttle service and eventual high speed rail service.

Develop a bulk cargo port and water access from Gary to Chicago.

There is an existing port that is intermittently used by various industrial companies now. With some investment and state and Federal coordination, it is possible to improve this port for more regular bulk shipments that can be transferred to truck and rail for distribution.

This improved access will spur economic development of industrial businesses along the lake and P3 zone with a possible benefit of some commercial water taxi traffic to and from Chicago.

Buffington harbor truck/ car separation project completed

Airport Road redevelopment completed

Clark Road fully functional, with northern terminus having no at grade rail crossings

2015

2017

2022

37 supporting infrastructure

CHALLENGES

Enhanced transportation infrastructure Proposed route Planned route

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Improvements to existing rail stop Addition of a high-speed rail stop Circulation shuttle Lake ferry service to downtown Chicago

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Flocking to Gary

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The lands surrounding the Gary/Chicago International Airport are rich in ecological treasures.

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A sustainable development vision requires identifying both the area’s environmental challenges and its natural assets, and remediating the hazards associated with the first and providing protection and expanded opportunities to connect the community to the second. From the famous Indiana dunes to the multitude of animal species that comprise the area’s ecosystem, some of the high-value conservation areas in the project zone offer unique opportunities to serve as recreational and educational resources for area residents. Connecting the community to these unique natural assets not only improves their quality of life, but increases the development value on surrounding parcels.

natural assets

natural assets: connect development to quality of life

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, more than 48 million Americans consider themselves “birders.”

CHALLENGES

Lack of coherent plan and vision.

Inadequate infrastructure and site access.

Lack of knowledge of ecological heritage.

Brand industrial and ecological heritage.

Up until now, there has been no broader vision for the project area crisscrossed by rail lines, hazard sites, and disconnected natural resources loosely identified as protected.

This lack of vision poses a threat to effective identification and remediation of existing hazard sites and to the protection and future enjoyment of the area’s natural resources.

Some of the area’s key natural resources, such as the lakefront and dunes, lack adequate public infrastructure to bring people to enjoy these areas.

Few locals and fewer visitors know of the ecological resources available right in our backyard. No one can take advantage of what they do not know exists.

The unique blend of a robust industrial heritage along with an unusual cadre of natural resources from the lakefront to the dunes to the migration patterns of birds who make the project area a routine stopping grounds offers an asset the area can market.

No one can take advantage of what they do not know exists.

Provide increased educational and recreational opportunities.

Some appropriate uses in the project area include an observation deck for bird watching, trails that connect to the broader regional park system, and access to the lake front for fishing which is popular among residents.

Establish sustainable vision.

Using the Chicago Sustainability Airport Manual as a guide and reference, Gary/Chicago International Airport should adopt its own sustainability plan at a scale appropriate to its size and environment.

43 natural assets

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INITIATIVES

Rails-to-trails railway observation project complete

Recognition by industry and regulatory groups for eco-friendly development

2018

2020

connective greenway Preserved area Recreation area Pedestrian / bicycle trail

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A connective greenway will lend cohesion and greater utilization of the area’s natural assets, which include: Lake Michigan: The world’s fifth largest body of fresh water Indiana Dunes: Home to more than 350 species

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making it work

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At the heart of everything that is Northwest Indiana are the people who call it home. They are the people who rose Gary, Indiana, to the crown of American industrial achievement in the last century. They are the people who have weathered the sometimes brutal consequences of changing economies and globalization. And they are the people who will help write the next chapter in Northwest Indiana’s history.

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The master development vision for the Gary/Chicago International Airport and surrounding lands aims to create a better quality of life first and foremost for the citizens of this region. It aims to do so through the creation of more jobs, provision of better access to natural resources, and rejuvenation of long underperforming land to value-creating assets in which the whole area can take great pride. An important part to realizing that vision is working to ensure that residents are in the best position to participate in the activity that will occur around them.

community development

community development: Connect People with opportunity

The airport currently provides 230 onsite jobs with an annual payroll exceeding $16 million.

Career and job readiness.

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The local workforce in many respects does not possess the necessary skills and experience required for the likely jobs of the future. Long bouts of unemployment, lack of educational attainment, and lack of experience in the fields that will most likely be of highest demand in the future alienates the local workforce from participating in economic opportunities.

training for the future

INITIATIVES

Communication among available resources.

Public relations and branding.

Assemble a central information resource.

There are many organizations, institutions and companies in the greater area that are already providing very valuable workforce development tools for residents. But as is often the case, there is little coordination, crossutilization and intraorganizational support of these efforts to leverage their full potential impact and value for participants. The result can be a duplicity of effort in some areas and a failure to address others. The limited financial resources available cannot be most effectively stretched without regional cooperation and coordination.

The city, and consequently its workforce, are up against negative perceptions from outside investors who overlook opportunities to bring jobs here for opportunities elsewhere.

These perceptions include the perception that doing business in Gary is a cumbersome and onerous process involving too many departments and bureaucratic hurdles.

This must be addressed in order to give Northwest Indiana residents greater opportunities for employment.

A database of relevant organizations, institutions, programs, and funding sources should be compiled along with key contact information.

Create a one-stop website.

One of the key recommendations from the Charette was the creation of a one-stop website featuring the information compiled from the central database made available to both prospective job seekers and potential new area employers.

The vision is to have one easily accessible resource that would lead to the best collection of resources depending on the particular need or interest of the individual.

Establish regional workforce development commission.

The purpose of the commission would be to improve communication among and expanded partnerships between existing organizations working in the area of workforce development.

The commission would include members from across Northwest Indiana and would hold quarterly meetings to update each other on individual activities and newly available resources, review area needs and program deficiencies, and discuss opportunities for crossutilization and broader support.

In the Gary area, eight institutions of higher learning graduate a pool of highly qualified candidates with skills in engineering, manufacturing, technology, logistics and other growing sectors.

New workforce development commission forms

Education / scholarship beneficiaries exceed 25 individuals from Gary

An educational or vocational training facility opens and serves 500 students

2015

2020

2025

49 community development

CHALLENGES

proximate, available, and qualified workforce Adjacent neighborhood Job training and creation

50

Local residents benefit from training and investment programs that include: Ivy Tech: a 21st-century skills college WorkOne: a workforce placement agency RDA: an agency investing in new job opportunities

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connecting the dots

The Gary/Chicago International Airport and surrounding lands are at the threshold of transformational change. Engaged in a historic public-private partnership that fuses strong civic leadership with expert private resources, never before has the area been as poised as it is now for forging a better future.

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Significant game-changing catalysts are already in motion as multiple large scale investment projects are injecting new life and promise. The 1,900 foot runway extension, soon to be completed in 2015, will dramatically expand the Airport’s capabilities to fulfill its role as Chicago’s Third Airport. The successful assemblage of public-owned property into prime areas of development is creating new opportunities for businesses to locate in the area and create more jobs than was ever before possible.

This book offers a glimpse into how the changes happening now, and the many more to come, offer a new vision for this crucial part of Northwest Indiana. This vision rests on one fundamental principle: connectivity was the economic driver of who we were and can once again be the driver of who we become. It is a principle that has characterized the vast transportation infrastructure, local economy, natural assets, strategic location and history of this region from its very inception. It is a principle that reminds us how in days past we achieved greatness, and if properly retooled and reapplied, we can achieve even greater things tomorrow. This principle is bringing together a coalition of municipal agencies, entrepreneurs, investors, developers, planners, and citizens to strategically leverage our bountiful natural assets and enviable multimodal transport network. It emphasizes our proximity to the nation’s third largest city, and via our runways, the global marketplace. Its about connecting outside capital to local development, and local residents with improved opportunities to live, work and explore Northwest Indiana.

Connecting the dots

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integrating diverse systems into a whole

Revealing existing assets and potential embedded in them Overlaying complementary systems Encouraging a diversity and complexity of uses

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Multiple individuals and institutions contributed their insights throughout a lengthy visioning process. This document is a testament to their passion, wisdom, and commitment.

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Civic leaders

Aviation leaders

Panelists

Karen Freeman Wilson Mayor, City of Gary

Ozzie Moore President and CEO, AvPORTS

Denise Dillard

Chuck Stipancic President and CEO, AFCO

Indiana State

Kyle Allen President, Gary Common Council BR Lane Interim Airport Director

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James Cooper Vice Chair, Authority Board

This document would not have been possible without the many participants who contributed insight, expertise, and boundless energy to its making.

Elvin Charity Chairman, Compact Board Senator Joe Donnelly U.S. Senator, State of Indiana

Steve Forrer Executive Vice President, AFCO/AvPORTS

Harley Snyder

Representative Ed Soliday Michael Zonsius Group leaders

Michael Boland First Deputy Commissioner, Chicago Department of Aviation Michael Mullen Chairman, Regional Alliance

Kelly O’Brien Erik Andersen Luke Leung Chuck McCoy Tyler Meyr

Representative Peter Visclosky U.S. Congressman, State of Indiana Rosemarie Andolino Commissioner, Chicago Department of Aviation Bill Hanna President and CEO, Indiana Regional Development Authority

Cynthia Pruitt Tom Siwula Jason Stanley

59 Acknowledgments

THANK YOU

Agencies and partners Federal Aviation Administration

Metropolitan Planning Council

Gary Common Council

Purdue University

Councilman Kyle Allen, President

Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana

Councilman Ronald Brewer, Vice President

Gary Redevelopment Commission

Editors Steve Forrer

Namon Flournoy Bo Kemp

Gary / Chicago International Airport Authority

Councilwoman Mildred Shannon, 1st District

James Cooper

Councilman Michael Protho, 2nd District

David Fagan

Gilbert King, Jr. Erik Andersen Eric Reaves

Denise Dillard Indiana Department of Natural Resources

Emily Tapia-Lopez Kenya Jones Urban planning

Indiana Senate 60

Brian D’Amico Bill Joiner

State of Illinois Indiana General Assembly

Rev. Marion Johnson

Councilwoman Mary Brown, 3rd District

Tyler Meyr Rosie Washington Adam Bachtel

Indiana Regional Development Authority

Shontrai Irving

Councilwoman Carolyn Rogers, 4th District

Gary / Chicago International Regional Authority (Compact)

Frank Hu Jeraldine Williams

Alesia Pritchett Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC)

Joseph van Dyk

Councilwoman Kimberly Robinson, 5th District

Creative direction Tenants F. Philip Barash

Councilman Ronier Scott, 6th District

City of Gary

Elvin Charity, Esq.

City of Chicago

Kyle Allen

Gary Common Council

James Cooper

Gary Chamber of Commerce

Eduardo Cotillas

Gary / Chicago International Airport Ad Hoc Committee

Stephen Patton

David Bochnowski

Gary Redevelopment Commission

Alesia Pritchett

Cornell Collins

P3 Ad Hoc Committee

Kimberly Robinson

Carrie Hightman

AFCO/AvPORTS

Susan Shea

Rev. Marion Johnson

Alliance for Regional Development

Dan Widawsky

Bo Kemp

B. Coleman Aviation NIPSCO

Councilman Roy Pratt, Parliamentarian

White Lodging Boeing Gary Jet Center Indiana National Guard Sage Popovich

Mamon Powers, Jr. Harley Snyder

61 Acknowledgments

State of Indiana

Gary / Chicago International Airport 6001 Airport Road Gary, IN 46406 219 949 9722