Gary/Chicago International Airport earns $6 million infrastructure funding

Growth at the airport driven by air cargo services

The snow blower and snow broom that towered over and nearly hid the Gary/Chicago Airport’s office building were placed in the parking lot for a purpose. “We really wanted to showcase those investments,” said the airport’s executive director Dan Vicari at Wednesday’s press conference.

For Indiana’s 3rd largest mover of air freight, investments in snow removal equipment are a must when hosting operators like United Parcel Service and other cargo carriers.

“That snow blower is vital during heavy snow operations; it is worth $800,000. That snow broom is $600,000. We were able to purchase two of them,” Vicari said.

The airport used the press conference to announce it had received $6 million in federal funding to improve the airport’s air cargo infrastructure.

Air cargo service offerings have driven the airport’s growth, increased capacity and expanded opportunities, Vicari said. “This federal investment toward air cargo infrastructure will further grow the airport's air cargo service offerings and act as a catalyst for future growth of the airport and surrounding areas.”

Frank Mrvan, Jr., Indiana’s 1st District U.S. Congressman acquired the grant from Fiscal Year 2023 Community Project Funding. Community project funding allows House members to fund specific projects for state, local or tribal governmental grantees and certain eligible nonprofits.

The grant is divided in 2 separate elements.

Four million dollars are going for construction of a heavy air cargo logistics apron. The apron will allow for multiple aircraft to be parked, unloaded or loaded, refueled, boarded, or maintained.

The other $2 million dollars will go toward constructing a sanitary sewer line to expand the air cargo logistics center, Vicari said. “The de icing operations that we provide to UPS and other air cargo carriers is vital. That water will be redirected to the sewer pump station and back to the Gary Sanitary District’s wastewater treatment facility.”

“Each time I drive by and see UPS trucks and planes here, I’m encouraged. I know people are unloading those trucks and planes, and setting up for deliveries. Cargo services are creating jobs for East Chicago, Hammond, Gary and all of northwest Indiana,” Rep. Mrvan said.

The snow removal equipment was funded from an earlier community project funding grant secured by Rep. Mrvan.