The Crusader Newspaper Group

Mayor travels to Washington to seek opportunities for city

Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson led a Gary delegation to Washington, DC on May 19 to seek economic opportunities for the city and the airport.

The Mayor and the delegation met with a number of U.S. leaders including Congressman Pete Visclosky, Federal Aviation Administrator (FAA) Michael Huerta, U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration Chief of Staff Sean Cartwright and Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Rohan Patel.

The delegation’s visit to Washington, DC comes as the city continues to seek federal partnerships and opportunities for Gary. The agenda included discussions about economic development activities, demolition and development, national initiatives and updates on choice neighborhood partnerships.

Discussions in Washington, DC also included an update on the Gary/Chicago International Airport. There were also discussions on how GYY and the federal government can partner together to grow and strengthen the airport.

Freeman-Wilson and the delegation thanked FAA Administrator Herta for the FAA’s support and on-going assistance in completing the airport’s Runway Expansion Project in July 2015, extending Runway 12-30 from 7,000 to 8,900 and allowing the airport to serve larger, heavier aircraft flying to and from destinations further away.

The delegation also discussed the airport’s continued operational growth, increased capacity and expanded opportunities to attract new general aviation, cargo service and commercial carriers and the need to construct an on-site U.S. Customers and Border Patrol facility to allow the airport to service incoming international flights and expand its growth potential.

 

 

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