In early 2015, the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, owners of the Little River Casino in Manistee, Michigan, filed an application with the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs to take 60 acres into trust for an off-reservation casino in Muskegon. Tribal Ogema Larry Romanelli said he expects the BIA will hold a hearing on a Draft Environmental Impact Statement later this year. “Our efforts are on track finally, with the Muskegon effort. These are all necessary steps that we need to take, and I’ve learned to be very patient during the process,” Romanelli said.
Meanwhile, the tribe recently made its biannual revenue sharing payment to the Manistee County Revenue Sharing Board for a total of $710,408, based on two percent of electronic game revenue from the Little River Casino. Since the casino opened in 1999, the tribe has paid $30,479,814 in revenue sharing to Manistee County, the City of Manistee and Manistee Township, in accordance with its state gaming compact.
The Little River Band also has paid the state of Michigan more than $85 million to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation under the gaming compact.
The casino’s revenue-sharing funds provide a payment in lieu of property tax revenue. The Manistee revenue sharing board uses the casino funds to reimburse local law enforcement and emergency services for casino-related costs. Any additional funds are divided by the local governments to purchase special items such as a Jaws of Life machine and new sidewalks.
Manistee Township Supervisor Dennis Bjorkquist, chairman of the local revenue sharing board, said, “The Little River Band has been a major contributor to the community and catalyst for our region’s growth. The casino has significantly boosted our tourism to businesses beyond the casino. The tribe is a great neighbor and partner in our community.”
