The Gary/Chicago International Airport celebrated $24 million in upgrades to its air cargo services.
Work on the 55-acre campus began in late 2024 and was completed earlier this summer. The airport's cargo sector has grown exponentially since UPS launched operations in 2020.
“Today’s ribbon cutting marks a transformative moment for the Gary/Chicago International Airport and the continued evolution of our air cargo operations. We are grateful for the strong support of our federal, state and local partners who helped make this investment feasible,” said GCIA Executive Director Dan Vicari in a press release. “The completion of this new 55-acre cargo campus positions the airport extremely well for continued growth, creating new opportunities for current and future airport users while reinforcing our role as a vital economic engine for Northwest Indiana.”
A new cargo logistics apron allows eight wide-body cargo planes to operate simultaneously at the airport.
The Sept. 8 ceremony also broke ground on $2 million in upgrades to the sanitary sewer system, which the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers will build.
The long-term expansion project will include the installation of a Jet-A fuel pipeline and a deicing facility.
Federal, state and local officials collaborated to raise the funds necessary for the upgrades. U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-IN, allocated more than $10 million in Community Project Funding in 2023 and 2024. The Federal Aviation Administration committed $4 million as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the State of Indiana offered grants of $9.8 million.
“Today’s milestone is a testament to what we can achieve through strong federal, state, and local partnerships,” said City of Gary Mayor Eddie Melton. “The completion of this state-of-the-art cargo campus elevates Gary's role as a premier logistics hub in the Midwest. We are building the critical infrastructure necessary to attract world-class operations and drive sustained momentum for the City of Gary.”
The initiative is part of the airport's long-term master plan, which was approved by the FAA in 2022. Airport improvements started in 2015 with a runway expansion to 9,000 feet. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility opened at the airport in 2018.
