Little River Band acquires land near off-reservation gaming site

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Artist's rendering of proposed off-reservation casino in Fruitport Township, Michigan. Image:Little River Band

The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians acquired more land near its off-reservation gaming site in Michigan, MLive reports.

The tribe paid $500,000 for 120 acres formerly owned by Fruitport Community Schools, MLive reported. The parcel is about 2.5 miles from the site of the proposed $180 million casino in Fruitport Township.

"At this time I can tell you that we are diligently working to define and refine potential uses for the property," attorney Thomas J. St. Dennis told MLive.

The tribe is pursuing the casino under the two-part determination provisions of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. If the Bureau of Indian Affairs approves the project, the state governor will have final say.

The tribe has seen strong local support for the project. The BIA released a scoping report last month as part of the process for an environmental impact statement.

Get the Story:
Indian tribe planning casino completes $500K school land purchase (MLive 3/3)

Federal Register Notice:
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Fruitport Casino Project, Fruitport Township, Muskegon County, Michigan (September 21, 2015) Related Stories:
Little River Band hails BIA movement on off-reservation casino bid (02/04)
Editorial: Approve Little River Band off-reservation casino (11/16)
Little River Band might buy land by off-reservation gaming site (11/10)
Steve Pego: Michigan compact bars off-reservation casino (11/06)
Little River Band hopeful after off-reservation casino hearing (10/19)
Little River Band sees support for off-reservation casino bid (10/16)
Little River Band set for hearing on off-reservation casino bid (10/14)