GARY, IN, AUGUST 28, 2013 – Members of the Ad Hoc Committee of The Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority Board reported today that the committee has received 10 responses to the Request for Proposals (RFP) to invest in the airport and the surrounding area through a potential public-private partnership (P3).
The respondents include firms and organizations with a wide range of expertise in many sectors such as aviation, financial and real estate management as well as urban and environmental planning.
“We are very pleased with the number of respondents and the breadth of their expertise,” said Carrie J. Hightman, chair of the Ad Hoc Committee and executive vice president and chief legal officer of NiSource Inc. “These respondents demonstrate the value that can be unlocked at the airport to create good jobs and sustainable development for Gary and the region.”
The committee will review, evaluate and recommend proposals to the Airport Authority Board in September.
The deadline for submissions to the RFP was 5 p.m. (CDT) on Monday August 26, 2013.
Tasked by the Airport Authority in March to explore a P3 to accelerate job creation and long-term investment in Gary and the Northwest Indiana region, the Ad Hoc Committee foresees a P3 model which retains public ownership of the airport and benefits from private sector innovation and access to capital.
In addition to the P3 exploration, major construction at the airport of a $166 million runway extending the main 7,000-foot runway by 1,900 continues.
The Gary/Chicago International Airport is less than 30 minutes from the heart of the tri-state region – Chicago. The Airport is directly connected to Chicago's transportation network through freight, interstate and mass-transit and has close proximity to multiple Lake Michigan ports.
