Peoples' Bank CEO to Chair Committee

GARY, IND., February 20, 2013– Community and business leaders will lead an ad hoc committee of the Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority to review and recommend the best public-private investment strategy for Chicago's third airport.

Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson and Nathaniel Williams, president of the Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority (GCIAA) said David Bochnowski, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Peoples Bank will chair the seven-member committee which will report its recommendations within the next 60 days.

"Recommending strategic ways to achieve the best mix of private sector investment with public control is the task of this outstanding committee," said Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson. "We want the best public policy in place to attract private sector investment with good-paying jobs for the long-term life of the region's third largest airport."

The first meeting of the ad hoc committee is scheduled at 11 a.m. Friday, February 22 at the airport authority office, 6001 West Industrial Highway, in Gary. The ad hoc committee is the result of a recent intergovernmental agreement between the City of Gary and the airport authority to collaborate more effectively for the development of the airport and the surrounding Indiana-Illinois region. The ad hoc committee members include:

• David Bochnowski, Chairman and Executive Officer, Peoples Bank
• Cornell Collins, Attorney and GCIAA Board Member
• Pastor Marion Johnson, Pastor of Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, GCIAA Board Vice President
• Bo Kemp, Chief Executive Officer, J Gari and Associates
• Harley Snyder, Chief Executive Officer, HSC, Inc., and Regional Development Authority Board Member
• Mamon Powers, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, Powers and Sons Construction Company
• Carrie J. Hightman, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, NiSource

"The ad hoc committee will be looking closely at the best ways to approach operations, management and investment in the airport from a private sector strategy that includes public control," said committee chairman David Bochnowski, CEO of Peoples Bank.

A recent report by the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority outlined the economic impact of a revitalized third airport, indentifying an estimated $400 million in capital investment, 2,400 direct and indirect jobs and an annual economic output of $526 million from airport-related activity.

A large-scale $167 million runway extension project currently underway is expected to be finished by the end of the year.

The Gary/Chicago International Airport is less than 30 minutes from the City of Chicago. The airport is directly connected to Chicago’s transportation network through rail freight, interstate and mass transit integration.