The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians recently delivered an application to the U.S. Department of Interior to have the Bureau of Indian Affairs take land into trust for a 0 million casino, hotel and retail development in Fruitport Township in Muskegon County, Michigan. Ogema Larry Romanelli said past opposition has been quiet recently. “The response I’m aware of has all been positive. We really haven’t had much of that lately. When you have jobs and people making money, it actually does help the crime rate,” he said. Romanelli said the new casino would provide 1,200 jobs.
The tribe heard the same objections in 1999 when it built its first casino in Manistee. The predicted crime wave never happened and the casino now is the major employer in the community.
Fruitport Township Supervisor Brian Werschem said the project will be a good fit in the community, population 13,600. The development would feature a casino with 1,700 slot machines and 35 table games, a 220-room hotel with conference and meeting space, plus dining and entertainment options. The tribe has pledged to dedicate 2 percent of all electronic gaming proceeds into a fund to be used for a variety of civic projects.
“I’m a Muskegon resident. I have every reason to do something that helps the local region. I don’t think the casino solves everything, but I think it could help jump-start the local economy,” Romanelli said.
Meanwhile, the Hannahville Indian Community of Michigan announced work has begun on an $8 million, 15,390 square foot expansion at its Island Resort & Casino in Harris. The project will take two years and will add a full-service spa in 2016, a second golf course in 2017, a new hotel entrance and many upgrades throughout the facility. General Manager Tony Mancilla said some of the casino enhancements will be completed this summer. “We want guests to have a full experience. Whatever they want to do, we want to be able to provide it and we want to provide a top–notch experience,” he said.
