The casino project that is about to be realized in the Muskegon suburb is moving ahead. Yesterday, the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians tribe moved one step closer to receiving the federal permit and therefore, it might soon be given the nod to commence construction.
The tribe has requested the aforementioned federal permit more than a year ago and the members of the Bureau of Indian Affairs had to give their approval for taking 60 acres of land into trust.
A few hours ago, tribal representatives announced that a scoping report was released. The report in question defines the areas that need to be examined and included in the Environmental Impact Statement, intended to cast light on the negative consequences a casino construction in the region would bring about. The estimated cost of the casino complex is about $180 million.
Larry Romanelli, the leader of the Little River Band, said in a special statement that the federal permit would be a huge milestone not only for the tribe but for the Muskegon community in general. The project is said to bring the long-awaited economy diversification to the region.
Back in September 2015, the Indian Affairs opened a public scoping period with the aim of identifying the problems that need to be addressed before a permit is issued.
In the middle of October local communities represented by labor organizations, schools, and public figures were given the chance to declare their support for the casino project of Little River Band.
Mr. Romanelli also added that the positive feedback of local communities encouraged the tribe to continue putting efforts in obtaining a building permit. He did not miss to mention that the feedback was a key factor that helped the Bureau of Indian Affairs evaluate the potential environmental threats to the area.
Currently, the Little River Band runs a casino complex located in Manistee but insisted that a second casino would be beneficial to the tribal enterprise. What made them choose the Muskegon County was the fact that the area is densely populated with members of the Little River Band.
According to the tribal proposal, the gaming floor will spread over 69,000 square feet. There will be roughly 1,700 slots and 35 table games. An adjacent hotel will also be available as well as plenty of dining and entertainment facilities.
The project is expected to create more than 1,500 jobs and attract almost 2 million visitors annually.
