Washington, D.C.  –  Congressman Pete Visclosky today announced that the Gary/Chicago International Airport (GCA) will receive a $5,344,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for airport expansion efforts.

“The Gary Airport can become an economic engine for the region,” said Visclosky.  “These federal funds will help the airport execute its master plan and be a part of Northwest Indiana’s new economy.  There is a lot of work to be done at the airport and I will do everything I can to support its efforts to become a major airport and an economic powerhouse.”

The FAA grant awarded today provides the fourth payment of the Letter of Intent that was approved in 2006.  The Letter of Intent provides $57.8 million over 10 years, available in installments of up to $6 million per year, for improvements and expansion that will help GCA stake its claim as the third major airport in the region.  The planned expansion would increase the size of the airport by roughly 50 percent and extend the main runway to a length of 9,000 feet.  To date, GCA has received over $20 million under the Letter of Intent.

Visclosky has long been an advocate for GCA, working with local officials to best utilize the facility.  In addition to supporting the airport’s efforts to secure the Letter of Intent, he directed $14.6 million to the airport for apron expansion, runway overlay, safety modernization, and various other improvements, and $24.961 million for the Indiana National Guard Readiness Center at the airport.

“The Gary Airport is an untapped resource for the region that we must take advantage of,” said Visclosky.  “I encourage the city and the Airport Authority to seek a public-private partnership that will utilize these funds to maximize the airport’s potential and turn GCA into a profit-making enterprise.”