‘Just the beginning’: Officials break ground on $60 million Gary FedEx facility

As he prepared to help break ground on a new $60 million FedEx facility in Gary, Gov. Mike Braun acknowledged how important Northwest Indiana is to the rest of the state.

“The region often gets overlooked,” Braun said. “But this is going to inspire a lot of people to invest here, and it’s going to give a lot of confidence to our state government to make sure it’s a comeback, and it’s a renaissance. … We’re just getting started.”

Braun, on Thursday, helped Gary Mayor Eddie Melton and other regional officials break ground on the new FedEx Distribution Center at 1 Buffington Harbor Drive near the Gary/Chicago International Airport. The $60 million facility is expected to create about 600 jobs in the city.

“The fact that you’re doing this as a community, and you’re pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps, and you’re being entrepreneurial and doing most of this yourself, it’s inspiring,” Braun said. “As long as I’m your governor, I’m going to put extra effort and special attention to (Gary’s comeback).”

Melton thanked Braun for coming to Gary, saying he recognizes the value the city brings to the rest of the state.

“Gary, Indiana, is a logistics gold mine,” Melton said. “This is just the beginning.”

Gary’s proximity to Chicago helps logistics, Melton said, adding that the city also has access to ports, rail lines and the Gary/Chicago International Airport. Melton is optimistic for the future of the city, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, when he said the logistics and transportation industries were still strong.

Councilman Dwayne Halliburton, D-2nd, said Thursday that he’s excited to see what the FedEx distribution center brings to Gary, especially because the company has a facility in Indianapolis that’s been successful.

“On behalf of the Gary Common Council and the constituents we serve, we thank FedEx for choosing Gary,” Halliburton said, “but more importantly, we thank FedEx for being part of our comeback story.

In April, Melton officially announced that FedEx was coming to Gary after buying 78 acres of land at 6200 Industrial Blvd., according to Post-Tribune archives.

Melton also expressed excitement about other projects and investments in the city, including Indiana Sugars’ plan to build its next headquarters and facilities at Buffington Harbor.

He also highlighted Nippon Steel’s acquisition of U.S. Steel, which is expected to bring about $3.1 billion to the city’s Gary Works facility. In September, U.S. Steel announced its board approved a $200 million investment into the Gary Works hot strip mill.

“This is that Greater Gary momentum that everyone is going to talk about,” Melton said. “Mark my words, Gary, Indiana, will be the greatest comeback story in American history.”

Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, was also present at Thursday’s groundbreaking and thanked Braun for his attendance, adding that he’d like to see the governor at more events in Northwest Indiana.

Mrvan called FedEx’s facility in Gary an “investment in the future.” He said Melton, Braun and other leaders are eager to bring change to the city.

“We have a sense of urgency in Northwest Indiana to create economic development and put people to work,” Mrvan said.

The FedEx distribution center will not only help create hundreds of jobs in Gary, but it would also mean more income for the city and increase its tax base.

“Our neighborhoods are going to be safer,” he said. “We’re going to be able to demolish old buildings and bring in new buildings. We’re going to be able to have schools that have greater investments. These types of investments show what these projects mean to the city and Northwest Indiana as a whole.”

In Congress, Mrvan said he’s dedicated to fighting for Northwest Indiana, adding that he wants to be part of bipartisan partnerships that will help the region’s residents.

“Ultimately, we have to reach across the aisle and work together,” he added. “We need our communities and cities to thrive in Northwest Indiana. I’m thrilled to be here, and I’m thrilled to be part of the future of Gary.”