Local Milwaukee business and government leaders have formed a 50-strong aerotropolis corporation to spur growth and find new ways to entice big name businesses to General Mitchell International Airport.

The Milwaukee Gateway Aerotropolis Corporation, will deliver strategies to promote economic development around the airport, promote its inter-modal connections, such as Metro Milwaukee, and help draw up an aerotropolis master plan for the gateway.

"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," said Terry Witkowski.

Milwaukee 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.