Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Chairman Richard McCloud recently announced the tribe has proposed a partnership with the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota to develop a destination entertainment complex. The cornerstone of the proposal is a casino, along with a hotel, swimming pool, health club and spa, restaurant, buffet and cafe. McCloud said the project will provide 1,000 construction jobs and 1,000 permanent jobs. The state and federal government must approve the plan.
When the tribe approached Grand Forks about a casino in 2006, charitable gambling was a concern. McCloud said, “We will ensure not only that existing charitable gambling will not lose money but also that they actually will increase their profits and revenues through donations, sponsorships and marketing promotions.”
Another issue in 2006 was the social cost of gambling. McCloud noted, “In study after study by the U.S. Department of Justice and large universities, including UND, the evidence proves that casino gambling in isolated locations near stable, medium-sized cities such as Grand Forks does not cause or increase those social ills. In fact, to the extent that it brings badly needed resources, we actually can see an increase in social benefits. We plan to use the entertainment complex smartly to increase economic opportunity and social benefits for the city and our tribe.” McCloud noted about 65 percent of the tribe’s workforce is unemployed. The average annual household income is roughly $12,000 and 80 percent of tribal members live below the poverty line.
McCloud has proposed that the city “of Grand Forks play an integral role in marketing the casino.” He noted marketing is about 20 percent of a casino’s operating budget. “Marketing is where decisions are made about donations, sponsorships and other promotions, such as providing match-play and free-play. The marketing advisory board selected by the city of Grand Forks will play an integral role in making those decisions,” McCloud said.
He added, “Marketing will partner with downtown businesses so that shopping or dining downtown will provide free or match play. Goods and services will be bought locally. Hotel and dining laundry will be contracted to local businesses. Artistic and floral decor will be exhibited and arranged by local artists and shops.”
McCloud requested public input about the casino project. “Then, if the decision is made to move forward, we will ask the city council to authorize a negotiation process in which both the tribe and the city will have another chance to make sure that our mutual concerns are addressed, and our shared vision can come to fruition.”
