Gary airport targets federal money for cargo operations

Gary/Chicago International Airport officials, who expect cargo business to take off in the coming decade, celebrated a $6 million funding boost from U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, on Wednesday.

Mrvan joined officials at the airport to detail the impact of the funding.

“We want to make sure everyone understands the Gary/Chicago International Airport is open for business,” Mrvan said.

Airport executive director Dan Vicari said $4 million is targeted for the design, expansion and construction of a heavy air cargo logistics apron on the airport’s west side.

There will be room for six or seven planes at once on the apron with facilities behind them for unloading cargo as it’s routed on trucks. As business picks up, Vicari said there’s room for expansion on the apron.

He said $2 million of the funding will be used to install a sanitary sewer to the cargo center to permit de-icing and allow for expansion.

Preconstruction design work is already underway, Vicari said.

Mrvan said the funding came from federal Community Projects money. Locally, about $20 million in funding requests was included in the fiscal 2023 appropriations package, already signed into law. The airport was the largest funding recipient.

Vicari said the airport ranked third in Indiana in cargo operations, largely because of UPS, which began cargo operations in 2020 and renewed its lease last year. The rankings are done by the Federal Aviation Administration.

UPS officials attended Wednesday’s event and were introduced by Vicari.

Mayor Jerome Prince was in Indianapolis on Wednesday on legislative business, but his chief of staff Joy Holliday said Prince considers the funding an important milestone in the effort to expand cargo operations and attract fresh economic development.

An influx of cargo business will have a ripple effect on operations. John Girzadas, president of B. Coleman Aviation, a fixed base

operator, said his company has a contract with UPS for fueling. The contract required the hiring of more workers for the nighttime fueling of UPS’ Boeing 757 and its Airbus 300.

“Each time I drive by and see the representation of UPS, I’m encouraged,” Mrvan said. “I know UPS planes and trucks are there unloading.

“These investments aren’t given away, they’re earned. We fight and scratch and do whatever we can to create jobs.”

JOHN SMIERCIAK/POST TRIBUNE Daniel F. Vicari, from left, executive director of the Gary/Chicago International Airport walks with Joy Holliday, chief of staff for the city of Gary, and Congressman Frank J. Mrvan after a ceremony that commemorated $6 million in federal funds to support air cargo infrastructure at the Gary/Chicago International Airport, in Gary on Wednesday.

JOHN SMIERCIAK/POST-TRIBUNE U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland, addresses the crowd Wednesday during a ceremony that commemorated $6 million in federal funds to support air cargo infrastructure at the Gary/Chicago International Airport in Gary.