The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, based in Dowagiac, Michigan, announced that last year it invested more than million in the region, beyond annual payments made directly to Michigan from the tribe’s Four Winds Casinos and other ventures. Over the last four years, the tribe has invested 8 million in Michigan and Indiana, aside from annual payments to Michigan.
Last year the tribe spent more than $67.1 million with 3,287 vendors in Michigan and Indiana. Also, it provided $1.9 million to the Pokagon Fund, supported by electronic gaming revenue from the Pokagon Band’s Four Winds New Buffalo, and contributed $4.4 million to the New Buffalo Local Revenue Sharing Board, $823,408 to the Hartford Local Revenue Sharing Board and $612,872 to the Dowagiac Area Local Revenue Sharing Board.
In addition, the tribe donated $267,000 to Memorial Children’s Hospital over the past four years, and continued to support the South Bend Cubs with the naming rights agreement for Four Winds Field. Four Winds Casinos donated 1,000 food baskets just before the holidays, and gave $146,190 in gift cards to a variety of causes and events.
Mno-Bmadsen, the Pokagon Band’s non-gaming economic development enterprise, invested $4.57 million in 2015. Since it was formed in 2007, Mno-Bmadsen has invested $16.3 million in acquisitions and subsidiary development. Last year Mno-Bmadsen acquired D.A. Dodd, Inc., a mechanical trade contractor with operations in Indiana and Michigan.
John P. Warren, Pokagon Band chairman, said, “As the original inhabitants of the Michiana region, we support local communities by making millions of dollars in elective investments every year. These investments not only support area businesses through vendor payments, but also assist non-profit organizations, local governments, libraries, school districts, colleges, arts organizations and students through direct donations from the Pokagon Fund and our three local revenue sharing boards.”
