Back-to-back groundbreaking ceremonies will be held December 6 and 7 for the Ojibwa Casinos in Marquette and Baraga, Michigan, respectively. The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community owns both casinos. Tribal officials said million will be invested in the renovation and expansion projects at the two casinos, with .5 going toward the Marquette facility and .5 to Marquette.
KBIC Chief Executive Officer Larry Denomie III said, “The tribe actually hasn’t done any real reinvestment into their casinos going back to 1985. We started here in Baraga, actually, in a little bar that we have here attached to the casino called the Press Box.”
The Marquette project will include a 3-star, 80-room hotel, 400-seat convention center, 1,200-seat entertainment venue and three restaurants. The casino floor will be expanded from 289 to 500 slot machines.
Ojibwa Casinos General Manager Don Wren said, “I think it’s a great opportunity for both communities, both here at Baraga and Marquette. The employees are excited. Everybody’s on Cloud Nine about the project.”
Construction will begin soon at both casinos. The Baraga renovations are expected to be completed by March 2017 and the Marquette expansion is scheduled to open by October 2017.
