Manistee, Mich. — Next Tuesday, May 31, the Stellantis Corporation is expected to announce that they will open their new battery plant in Kokomo, Indiana and not Michigan. While that is heartbreaking news, the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians stands ready to fill the gap by providing 3,000 new jobs in the Muskegon area. 

Governor Whitmer has the power to create 1500 construction jobs and 1500 permanent jobs at the Casino with a stroke of her pen. The Casino project was approved by the Federal Government seventeen months ago and is just waiting for the Governor’s concurrence. And unlike the Stellantis battery plant, the jobs and economic development project will not cost the state taxpayers a dime.

“We join the state leaders in their disappointment over the loss of the Stellantis battery plant,” Said Larry Romanelli, Tribal Ogema of the Little River Band. “But we stand ready to super-charge the local economy by supplying 3,000 jobs with full benefits to the state at no costs to the taxpayers of Michigan.”

The final approval for the Casino, to be located in Fruitport Township in Muskegon County – is on the Governor’s desk. The Casino has overwhelming support from the community and is supported by business and labor, Democrats and Republicans, and Federal, state and local governments. The Tribe has been working on the project for the past 12 years. 

“With the Governor’s sign-off, we can create 3,000 jobs and the initial work can begin in months,” said Larry Romanelli. 

Tribal casino facts:
• Investment of $180 – $200 million dollars
• State Revenues: $15 million per year
• Local Revenues: More than $3 million a year.
• Expected to attract over 1.8 million visitors per year