Local support for proposed Michigan tribal casino

In Michigan, a plan from the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians to construct a $180 million casino resort in southern Muskegon County reportedly received a sizable amount of local reinforcement.

Muskegon meeting:

According to a report from the electronic news service in MLive Media Group, a large crowd assembled in the auditorium of a Muskegon-area school on Wednesday to hear about the federally-recognized tribe’s proposition with over 90 percent of their 53 attendees who talked expressing some amount of support.

Sizeable development:

The meeting also saw local police officers, non-profit associations and business leaders back the project that would visit the former Great Lakes Downs Racetrack in Fruitport Charter Township transformed into a 220-room casino hotel complete with meeting and conference spaces as well as entertainment and dining choices.

Extensive gaming choices:

Larry Romanelli, Tribal Chief for the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, reportedly told the electronic news service his tribe purchased the 60-acre site for the envisioned development in 2008 and expects that the finished project will additionally feature an approximately 69,000 sq foot casino offering roughly 1,700 slots as well as roughly 35 gaming tables.

Well-paid tasks:

MLive Media Group additionally cited Romanelli as declaring his tribe’s venture could begin welcoming guests as soon as 2020 following about 18 months of building and could lead to a 1,200 full-time jobs paying an average annual salary of roughly $45,000.

Property into trust application:

However, the electronic news service clarified that none of this could happen until the United States Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs places the property for the casino resort into trust for the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. It detailed that yesterday’s meeting was portion of this process and followed last month’s book of a draft environmental impact statement on the project.

Optimism proliferates:

Despite the over decade-long wait for permission to begin construction, Romanelli advised the electronic news service he remains optimistic and expects that the coming casino resort may help the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, which runs the 292-room Little River Casino Resort in nearby Manistee County, to provide health care, housing and other services to tribal members living in the Muskegon area.

“I’ve received nothing but support and encouragement since the announcement of this plan. I have high hopes the state Governor, House and Senate will be supportive. We’re in a fantastic location and doing so for good reasons. They all know jobs in west Michigan.