Gateway to Milwaukee

14th December 2009

Airport promotion group seeks to become non-profit corporation
By Tom Kertscher of the Journal Sentinel

The Airport Area Economic Development Task Force, a consortium of government and private-sector representatives that promotes Mitchell International Airport as an economic development catalyst, is proposing to become a non-profit corporation.

The new organization, which would be called the Milwaukee Gateway Aerotropolis Corp., would be better able to promote the airport, according to information being circulated among local governments.

The local governments are being asked to support the creation of the organization. On Tuesday, a resolution detailing the proposal will be considered by the Oak Creek Common Council.

The resolution says the task force has been meeting for two years and includes elected officials and staff from Oak Creek, Cudahy, Franklin, Greendale, Greenfield, Milwaukee, St. Francis and South Milwaukee, as well as from the airport, Milwaukee County, the Port of Milwaukee, and the state and federal governments.

The Airport Gateway Business Association, the South Suburban Chamber of Commerce, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce, the Greater Milwaukee Committee, Spirit of Milwaukee and VISIT Milwaukee also have been participating in the task force, according to the resolution.

The board of the Airport Gateway Business Association, which was formed in 2005 to promote the area around the airport, has authorized the appropriation of up to $15,000 in start-up costs.