GARY CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT RUNWAY EXPANSION GROUNDBREAKING - PRESS KIT

Runway Expansion Groundbreaking Gary Chicago International Airport 6001 W. Industrial Highway, Gary, Indiana May 25, 2011 3:15pm - 6:00pm AGENDA Welcoming Ross Amundson Vice President, Gary Chicago International Airport

3:15pm

Nathaniel Williams President, Gary Chicago International Airport City of Gary Mayor Rudy Clay

3:20pm

Governor Mitch Daniels Office David Terrill, Deputy Chief of Staff for Lt. Governor Becky Skillman

3:23pm

Indiana State Senate State Senator Earline Rogers

3:26pm

U.S. House of Representatives Mark Lopez, Chief of Staff U.S. Congressman Pete Visclosky

3:29pm

Federal Aviation Administration Jim Keefer, District Office Manager Great Lakes Region - Chicago ADO

3:32pm

Gary Chicago International Airport Steve Landry, Deputy Director

3:35pm

NWI Regional Development Authority Leigh Morris, Chairman of the Board

3:41pm

Questions & Answers*

3:45pm

Networking

3:50pm

* There will be a break-out session for the media immediately following the Q&A.

Cocktails & Hors D’oeuvres provided by Gary Jet Center.

About NWI Regional Development Authority Vision The RDA will be a catalyst to transform the economy and quality of life in northwest Indiana.

Values: Bold The RDA will set high goals and a bold and intrepid vision in order to stimulate a significant economic rebirth in Northwest Indiana.

Collaborative The RDA will seek to undertake projects with state and federal agencies; it will support public-private partnerships in the furtherance of its vision. The RDA will collaborate with agencies and individuals to help assure that development attends to the needs of our environment and social equity without regard to political affiliation, race, or social status.

Transparent Transparency will instill public confidence. The RDA will project differentiation and in so doing help to gain, maintain, and expand the support of public officials and the community at large.

Non-Partisan The RDA will seek to work with individuals and government agencies without regard to political affiliation. Our vision for northwest Indiana will be inclusive and capable of being embraced by all.

Efficient Efficiency will direct the RDA to secure existing resources and preserve finances for the creation of private sector jobs. The RDA will require applicants to implement “best practices” in order to qualify for funding.

Accountable Accountability will increase prudent allocation of the RDAs resources and enhance public confidence.

The RDA decision making process shall maximize the calibration of its investment and efforts at creation of desirable jobs.

Social Equity This will allow us to conduct our business both internally and externally and direct the use of our resources in ways that respect the diversity of our region.

Ed Glover East Chicago Appointment Working Groups Served: Regional Bus Authority Shoreline Development Administrative

Jeff Good Porter County Appointment Working Groups Served: Gary Chicago Int. Airport Regional Bus Authority

Bill Joiner Gary Appointment Working Groups Served: Shoreline Develop., Chair Commuter Rail Administrative

Lou Martinez Lake County Appointment Working Groups Served: Reg. Bus Authority, Chair Shoreline Development Commuter Rail

Leigh Morris Governor’s Appointment Working Groups Served: Gary Chicago Int. Airport, Chair

Peter Novak Hammond Appointment Working Groups Served: Administrative, Chair Regional Bus Authority

Harley Snyder Governor’s Appointment Working Groups Served: Commuter Rail, Chair Gary Chicago International Airport

Bill Hanna J.D., MBA RDA Executive Director

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Melissa Garcia Diversified Marketing Strategies 219-226-0300 melissa@3dms.com

Gary Chicago International Airport Runway Extension Project Breaks Ground $153 million project will generate 1,000 construction jobs over the next three years while setting the stage for increased air traffic and economic growth.

Gary, IN (May 25, 2011) – Officials from the Gary Chicago International Airport, Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA), the Federal Aviation Administration, the City of Gary, the Chicago/Gary Regional Airport Authority, and the Chicago Department of Aviation joined with nearly 300 of business and economic leaders from Indiana and Illinois to celebrate the long-awaited start of construction on the airport’s $153 million runway extension project.

The officials broke ground for a project that will relocate existing rail lines around the airport and build three bridges – two rail and one vehicle overpass – in order to make room for the runway extension itself. This portion of the overall expansion effort is being funded by a $30 million grant from the RDA, matching monies raised by local agencies.

When completed in 2013, the new Gary runway will measure nearly 9,000 feet.

“On behalf of the Gary Chicago International Airport Board of Directors, I would like to thank everyone involved in this project for their hard work and great patience,” said Nathaniel Williams , President, Gary Chicago International Airport. “Not only will this project make an immediate impact on the region by creating an estimated 1,000 -MORE-

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construction jobs over the next three years, it will enable Gary Chicago International Airport to attract new business and continue to fulfill its potential as a hub for economic growth.”

In May 2010, the airport unveiled a comprehensive business plan, developed by aviation experts Landrum & Brown and funded by the RDA, which identified the runway extension as crucial to increasing air traffic at Gary Chicago International Airport. The report found that, with the longer runway, the airport would be in an excellent position to serve charter and leisure vacation flights operating out of the Chicago area. That business would serve to place the airport on a sound financial footing from which it could explore further opportunities.

“There is currently no other single project in Northwest Indiana that stands to have as significant an impact on the region’s economic development than the extension of this runway,” said Leigh Morris, Chairman of the RDA. “The airport is following the steps laid out in the comprehensive plan, which will allow the airport to reach its full potential as a leading economic engine in this area. The RDA is proud to support this effort, and we look forward to returning here in 2013 for another celebration – this time, a ribboncutting.” # # #

Airport Location Gary Chicago International Airport 6001 W. Industrial Highway Gary, IN 46406 Phone: (219) 949-9722 (219) 949-4925 Fax: (219) 949-0573 Email: information@gyymail.com

Airport Board of Directors Nathaniel T. Williams , President Ross Amundson, Vice President Silas C. Wilkerson III, Secretary Delvert Cole, Member Cornell Collins, Member John Evans, Member Pastor Marion J. Johnson, Jr., Member

Airport Management Steven L. Landry, Deputy Director E-mail: slandry@gyymail.com Phone: (219)-949-4936 Fax: (219) 949-0573

Airport Services Gary Jet Center garyjetcenter.com (219) 944-1210

Bob Gyurko, Project Manager E-Mail:rgyurko@gyymail.com Phone: (219) 949-4912 Fax: (219) 949-0573 Kahari Velez Operations Supervisor E-mail: kvelez@gyymail.com Phone: (219)-949-1941 Fax: (219) 949-0573 Nikki Thorn Finance Manager E-Mail:nthorn@gyymail.com Phone: (219) 949-4903 Fax: (219) 949-0573

JetSelect Premium Aviation Services jetselect.net (866) 748-4538 Tuskegee Airmen (888) 235-9824

Chicago/Gary Regional Airport Authority (The Compact) The Chicago/Gary Regional Airport Authority promotes the development of the Gary Chicago International Airport (GYY) and coordinates with the development of Chicago’s two airports, Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport. The Authority was established through a 1995 compact between the cities of Chicago and Gary and is empowered to oversee, support, coordinate and plan for the continued development, enhancement and operation of the Chicago airports (Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Chicago Midway International Airport and the Gary Chicago International Airport).

This Authority has a 12-member board with five appointed by the Chicago City Council, five appointed by the Gary Common Council and one each by the Governors of Indiana and Illinois. The five Gary Common Council appointees are the President, Vice President and Secretary of the Gary Chicago International Airport Authority, the Common Council President, and the Chair of the Common Council’s Planning and Development Committee.

GARY MEMBERS Nathaniel T. Williams – Vice Chairman President, Gary Chicago International Airport Board Ross Amundson – Member Vice President, Gary Chicago International Airport Board Silas C. Wilkerson III – Member Secretary, Gary Chicago International Airport Board Ronier Scott – Member President, Gary Common Council Kyle Allen - Member Councilman-at-Large, Gary Common Council Dan Dumezich – State of Indiana Member Attorney, Mayer, Brown & Rowe CHICAGO MEMBERS Elvin Charity, Esq. – Chairman Attorney, Charity & Associates Steve Lux – Treasurer Comptroller, City of Chicago Mara Georges – Member Corporation Counsel, City of Chicago Richard Rodriguez Commissioner, Chicago Department of Aviation Eduardo Cotillas – Member Attorney at Law Susan Shea – Member State of Illinois Member, Illinois Department of Transportation Executive Director – Terrence A. Thomas Airport Manager, Operations, Midway International Airport, Chicago, IL Deputy Executive Director – Jerrold Carrington, Esq. Attorney, Gaming Partners, L.L.C., Chicago, IL