Gary Airport Emphasizes Inclusiveness in Contracts

The airport recently celebrated the completion of a long-awaited

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The Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority says it has adopted guidelines designed to maximize the inclusion of disadvantaged minority, women and veteran-owned business enterprises in airport contracts. Officials say the new procurement policy shows the authority and city’s commitment to engage local firms and workers.

The policy states:

• It is encouraged at least 20 percent of business enterprises doing business with the airport be D/M/W/VBE and at least 5 percent certified women- or veteran-owned business enterprises.
• It is encouraged at least 30 percent of business enterprises providing for third party sub-contractors have a significant preexisting presence in the city of Gary.

Board Chairman Steven Mays says "anytime we have work that needs to be done at the airport we want to use local firms, not just to create jobs, but to build a community of stakeholders invested in the success of their airport."

Members of the board have expressed a desire to regularly review this policy and make sure the airport does "all it can" to keep local businesses in the mix.