Construction is now underway for Chicago’s O’Hare Modernization Program, which will improve the capacity and efficiency of the airport through a redevelopment of the airfield. When Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley initially announced his historic plan, CG&A was hired to assist the City of Chicago in gaining the support of business and community leaders, in both the city and the surrounding suburban communities.
	To help drive the passage of O’Hare modernization legislation, CG&A used a wide variety of communication tools, including direct mail, letter-writing campaigns, media, newsletters, Web site development and briefings. The team mobilized a coalition of elected officials, suburban business and home owners and major business and trade organizations. After the two-month, coalition-building effort, more than 10,000 people throughout Illinois had signed on to support the modernization of O’Hare, including elected officials from the local, state and federal levels. Throughout the process, CG&A organized numerous media briefings on the airport planning and environmental review processes for O’Hare International Airport. For these briefings, message points were developed along with speeches and press materials from highly technical information, which resulted in accurate reporting on complex and often controversial issues. In addition, CG&A developed the public outreach program for the master planning process for the O’Hare Modernization Program.
	Building on the network of support, CG&A assisted the City of Chicago in gaining support for the modernization of O’Hare International Airport in the Illinois General Assembly. CG&A continues its work with the O’Hare Modernization Program as the construction moves forward.