This information was obtained from Alderman Witkowski's press release.

A meeting today at General Mitchell International Airport will mark the official creation of the Milwaukee Gateway Aerotropolis Corporation, Alderman Terry L. Witkowski said.

The City of Milwaukee has joined in formal cooperation with seven municipalities in the greater Milwaukee area and Milwaukee County to join the corporation, and today the corporation's 16-member board will meet to elect officers and adopt bylaws. The meeting will begin at 3 p.m. in the Sijan Room at Mitchell International.

Alderman Witkowski said the creation of the corporation is "the formalization of what was a large task force" working on the process to develop a framework for a Milwaukee area aerotropolis. "Since March of 2008 we've been working constructively with the 50-member Airport Area Economic Development Task Force on economic development surrounding the airport, and working toward creating the corporation," he said.

"Today, as the corporation takes flight, we're taking a major step forward to help metro Milwaukee become a larger player in the global economy, and many of those 50 task force members will become part of an advisory group that will be integral in the development of an aerotropolis for metro Milwaukee," the alderman said.

The aerotropolis would provide a system to maximize airport area development, including strategies for drawing both national and international companies to the area, as well as maximizing intermodal connections in metro Milwaukee (rail, highways, shipping/Port of Milwaukee) as they relate to the airport, Alderman Witkowski said.

Mayor Tom Barrett has been a key supporter of the effort to develop a Milwaukee area aerotropolis, and has appointed Department of City Development Commissioner Rocky Marcoux as his city representative to the corporation's board, Alderman Witkowski said.

Alderman Witkowski also credited and praised the Airport Gateway Business Association and its executive director, Tom Rave, as well as the Airport Gateway Business Improvement District for their work and contributions to help bring about the corporation and the aerotropolis. "Milwaukee area residents and businesses truly need to offer them a sincere ‘thank you' for everything they've done on the project," he said.

In addition to the city and county, the other municipalities that also approved resolutions to formally be a part of the corporation are Franklin, St. Francis, Cudahy, South Milwaukee, Oak Creek, Greenfield, and Greendale.