A major shipper and holder of high quality metals wants to locate depots in Gary and East Chicago.

Metro International Trade Services LLC, of Detroit, wants to locate in those cities because of their easy access to rail and smelting operations across North America, according to Curt Felch, Metro International vice president of strategic development.

Last year, it opened a similar facility at the Port of Indiana Burns Harbor.

"We are completely full there (Burns Harbor) and it has been a big success for us," Felch told the Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority board on Thursday.

The new Metro International facilities will employ about a dozen workers between them, Felch said. One will be located on 151st Street in East Chicago and the other on Waite Street in Gary.

Metro International is certified by the London Metal Exchange to hold non-ferrous metals for trade and sale by brokers, traders, and industry.

The airport authority on Thursday voted to approve a 20-acre modification of the airport's Foreign Trade Zone to include the East Chicago and Gary locations for Metro International.

"My hope would be that once you employ people, you would employ people from this area," said Rev. Marion Johnson Jr., airport authority president.

Felch said the Burns Harbor facility is staffed by local labor and that will also be true of the two new locations.

Foreign Trade Zone status exempts goods from certain duties and taxes, including state inventory taxes. The London Metal Exchange requires all storage depots for its metals to be in Foreign Trade Zones, Felch said.

The airport authority voted three months ago to take similar action for Metro International competitor Katoen Natie, of the Netherlands, which sought a 50-acre modification of the airport Foreign Trade Zone. Its depot will be located at the Chase Street Industrial Center.

Both companies will hold metals like aluminum, zinc, tin, copper and others metals in high security facilities.

In addition to providing jobs, the Metro International operations will benefit local manufacturers who may need high-quality metals, Felch said.