Gary Airport hopeful for funding to create fuel facility
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Officials in Gary are hoping a small piece of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s proposed $43 billion budget will be approved in order to support the Gary/Chicago International Airport. The budget calls for $9.8 million in infrastructure funding to build an on-site fuel distribution facility.
The airport said Thursday the funding, if authorized, would provide a competitive advantage as it continues to grow cargo services and general aviation offerings.
Currently, the airport has to have fuel trucked in, which officials say have created a long-term challenge, despite offering some of the lowest fuel costs in the Chicago Metropolitan Area.
If it is able to build an on-site distribution facility, the airport said it would be able to tap into the national “Jet A” fuel network, which would provide more competitive pricing and address increasing demand for aircraft to refuel at GCIA.
“Having an on-site fuel distribution facility is critical to the long-term competitive advantage of the airport, and we are grateful to Governor Holcomb for including this important distribution facility in his budget,” GCIA Executive Director Dan Vicari said in written remarks. “Eliminating the need to truck jet fuel to GCIA reduces our exposure to market fluctuations, while also providing the airport with enhanced capacity to handle additional operations as we continue to mature our offerings.”
The Republican governor formally presented his budget on Thursday, and the Indiana General Assembly will begin its budget-writing session on Monday.