The City of Gary, Indiana is located in Lake County on Lake Michigan, and is approximately 25 miles southeast of downtown Chicago. The key strategic advantages of Gary have led to a concentration of industrial/distribution uses along this corridor based on its proximity to Chicago, the central location in the U.S., and the excellent highway and freight transportation access. Large‐scale industrial parks are currently under development along the I‐80 corridor running through Gray and Lake County. The City of Gary is surrounded by large retail clusters in neighboring communities.

In 2008 the City of Gary drafted a new comprehensive plan to help bring jobs to the community, and to revitalize and rebuild its infrastructure. But it’s clear that Gary is in distress. Cost‐cutting scenarios are expected as officials plan for another multi‐million dollar budget shortfall this year. Mayor Rudy Clay and members of the City Council confirmed earlier in April that Gary is looking at a $7 million shortfall in 2009. The city has already petitioned to the Indiana Distressed Unit Appeals Board for budget relief. Reports produced by state and private agencies vary, but Gary could end up having to cut as much as $32 million from its budget this year without help from the Distressed Unit Appeals Board. Gary has already cut $8 million by dropping its general fund budget from $71 million to $63 million.

The “green” movement came to Gary when last year, about 500 laid‐off steel workers were called back to work in two steel plate mills there to produce steel for wind turbines. Gary is considered well‐placed to take advantage of the booming demand for wind turbine parts.

It is well‐located, with a huge rail and road transportation hub nearby, and vast amounts of Great Lakes water. Obama’s environmental focus may also help Gary become a hub of this new industry.