The U.S. Department of Interior approved the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians’ proposed $180 million casino in Fruitport Township, Michigan in December. But the tribe still is waiting for Governor Gretchen Whitmer to approve the project, which it started 12 years ago. The casino would be built at the site of the former Great Lakes Downs Racetrack and include a 220-room hotel, tribal officials said.
Whitmer has not stated whether she supports the project or not. The three Detroit casinos, the Wayne County Board of Commissioners and the Detroit city council all oppose it, as well as the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi and Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe
In a letter to the inspector general at the Interior Department, Bob Peters, chairman of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of the Pottawatomi Indians, wrote, “We believe that this approval was driven by politics and a cynical attempt to politically harm Governor Whitmer because she was a fierce critic of President Trump and campaigned aggressively against his re-election in a state critically important to the Trump’s re-election campaign.”
The tribe projected the casino-hotel would create 1,500 temporary construction jobs and 1,500 permanent, full-time jobs. State Rep. Terry Sabo said, “This is a big deal for the West Michigan region and we shouldn’t have to get approval from Detroit for economic development. Detroit needs to address their own revenue streams without infringing upon other municipalities. I urge Governor Whitmer to complete the process and approve the casino and the much-needed economic development and job creation in Muskegon County.”
State Senator Jon Bumstead added, “It’s 100 percent reliant on the governor’s signature to move this project forward. Muskegon matters, it’s not just Detroit and we want to make sure the governor hears that loud and clear. She needs to sign off because it’s going to be a huge benefit to Muskegon, Muskegon County and the surrounding areas.”
The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians also operates a casino in Manistee County.
