MANISTEE — Community leaders Friday joined tribal leaders and members of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians in their petition of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to concur in the federal decision to build a casino in Fruitport Township in Muskegon County.
This is the final step in the effort to build the tribe’s Muskegon casino project. The community rally took place at the Muskegon Museum of Art.
Whitmer has until Dec. 16 to either agree to support the casino project or ask the federal government for a one-time, six-month extension, according to a news release. If she does not act or refuses to support, the project ends.
“With the governor’s sign-off, we can create 3,000 jobs and the initial work can begin in months,” said Larry Romanelli, Tribal Ogema of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, in a news release. “We are fortunate to have resounding support from community leaders, businesses, unions and individuals throughout the county. They know this region needs the jobs, the revenues and the benefits a Muskegon casino would bring.”
The $180 million proposed casino is on the 86-acre site of the former Great Lakes Downs racetrack that was purchased by the tribe in 2007. The site and the tribe went through an extensive environmental impact analysis that took almost 10 years before being approved by the Federal Department of Interior last December. Beginning the construction process is just a matter of waiting for the governor's signature.
“This project will be built by some of the finest craftsmen and women in this state who can’t wait for this project to get started,” said Ryan Bennett, president of West Michigan Building Trades, in a news release. “But Muskegon also needs a large employer to raise the standard for all workers in the county. This Little River project will do just that. These are good-paying jobs, with benefits and opportunities for advancement. We need Gov. Whitmer to join us and help make that possible by approving this project.”
The proposed casino site is expected to attract more than 1.8 million visitors per year and provide the hotel rooms needed to bring larger conventions to the Muskegon area.
“The LRBOI Muskegon casino will provide jobs for local residents and entertainment options for visitors to Muskegon County,” said Bob Lukens, director of Visit Muskegon, the county’s convention and visitor’s bureau. “When people travel, they aren’t sitting in hotel rooms, they’re looking for things to do. This casino will increase Muskegon’s appeal as a leisure and group destination.”
In addition to the jobs and economic development expansion, the casino will generate more than $15 million in revenue to the state, millions more to local governments, and an estimated $1.5 million a year to local charities through the establishment of the tribe’s Seventh Generation Fund, according to a news release.
According to LRBOI representatives, the Muskegon community has been virtually in 100% support of this project for the past 10 years.
The project has bipartisan support from U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI), state Sen. Jon Bumstead (R-Newaygo), state Reps. Terry Sabo (D-Muskegon) and Greg VanWoerkom (R-Lansing), the Muskegon County Commission, Fruitport Township and six other communities including Muskegon Heights, Muskegon Community College, Baker College and the Fruitport Community Schools, the Muskegon Chamber of Commerce and many other business and labor groups.
"The tribe has extensive historical ties to traditional land in the Muskegon region with Muskegon County being home to the Little River Band’s largest population base," reads the news release.
The Little River Band’s proposed gaming and economic development would include:
• Approximately 70,000 square feet of gaming floor space;
• 1,700 slot machines and 35 table games;
• A 220-room hotel;
• Event and meeting room space;
• 1.8 million visitors per year;
• $180-$200 million investment; and
• $184 million in annual gross revenues.
The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians owns and operates the Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, which opened in 1999 with 600 slot machines. Since then it has expanded to include a 292-room hotel, 1,700 seat event center and "an expanding collection of slots and table games," according to the resort's website.
November 06, 2021 at 02:07AM
https://www.manisteenews.com/local-news/article/Community-leaders-rally-in-support-of-Little-16595687.php
Community leaders rally in support of new Little River Band of Ottawa Indians casino project - Manistee News Advocate
https://news.google.com/search?q=little&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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