Has until December 16th to decide.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has one month to make a decision on whether or not to approve a long discussed new casino in Fruitport Township.
Talks of a casino in Fruitport Township have been going on for 12 years, and now it all comes down to Whitmer, who has until December 16 to decide and sign off on the project.
Supporters of the Casino, which would be run by Native American Tribe Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, say it will bring in 1500-3000 good paying jobs to Muskegon County, skyrocket home values in the area, and bring much needed economic activity to Fruitport, where a struggling Lakes Mall is barely hanging on after both Sears and Younkers department stores recently went out of business.
Opposition has been strong however from other Michigan Casinos, including Gun Lake. They say, the new casino would violate a written understanding. That all tribes in Michigan only get to operate one casino apiece, and the Little River Band already owns and operates a casino in Manistee.
However, With Muskegon County having one of the highest unemployment rates in the state of Michigan, the new casino is getting bi-partisan support from state lawmakers who are urging Gov. Whitmer to approve the build.
“In a nutshell it’s all about jobs and economic development and this project will bring all of that,” State House Representative Terry Sabo said. “So when you are talking about a county that has the highest unemployment rate in the state, that is a big deal.”
Whitmer so far is not commenting on which way she is leaning. If approved, the project would also include a 220-room-hotel, with the total cost of construction estimated at $180 according to the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians.