Tribe gives $5 million to local governments, schools
Local governments and schools will receive $5 million this year in slot machine revenue from FireKeepers Casino Hotel.
The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, which owns the Emmett Township casino, announced a $5,004,207 payment to the FireKeepers Local Revenue Sharing Board. The payment represents 2 percent of the casino's annual slot machine revenue. It's partly used to reimburse governments that are losing tax revenue because the casino and the Athens-based tribe's Pine Creek Reservation are untaxable.
Also distributed on Friday was a $15,380,280 payment to the state of Michigan, accepted by Rep. Al Pscholka, R-Stevensville.
The local distribution is slightly lower than last year, when the tribe paid $5,266,401. It had increased every year since the casino opened and began the payments. In 2010, the first year it made the distribution, the tribe gave $1,933,683.
"Our tribe holds in high regards the revitalization efforts that have taken place in government-to-government relationships, to business-to-business relationships, and the revitalization of the economic development in the area of Calhoun County and the region," said Homer Mandoka, tribal council chairman.
So far, the tribe has paid $26 million to the revenue-sharing board and $73 million to the state. It also awarded $30.1 million in contracts in the state last year, $5.2 million of which was in Calhoun, Jackson and Branch counties.
Mandoka praised the tribal council, saying it focused on efforts that benefited members and strengthened local partnerships.
"Sometimes it's not just the quick and easy idea that is the best idea," he said. "They continually work hard and dissect to make sure it's a profitable and community event that's going to go on and make those achievements. If we close that gap that divides all of us, whether it's socially or economically, it's to the benefit of the entire community."
Pscholka, chairman of the state House Appropriations Committee, also applauded the casino's partnerships.
"Numbers are important, large checks are great," he said. "But it's the people behind the numbers that really make the difference."
Nearly 20 organizations, along with grant winners, have received money stemming from the casino's payments. The revenue-sharing board distributes the funding through a tiered system. Some of it goes toward administrative costs and then toward reimbursement requests. Eighty percent of what's left goes to governments losing tax revenue. The remainder goes to municipalities closest to the casino and through a competitive grant process.
Last year, Harper Creek Community Schools received the largest payment, about $2.1 million. Calhoun County was awarded nearly $630,000 and Emmett Township received about $470,000.
It's been about two years since FireKeepers opened its 242-room, resort-style hotel. It also has a 117,000-square foot gaming floor and a 2,000-seat entertainment venue that recently hosted performances by Tony Bennett, Chicago and The Band Perry.
The casino said in December it reached $200 million in cumulative paid labor costs — including wages, benefits and incentives — to the facility's 1,800 full- and part-time employees since opening in August 2009.
Reported by: Battle Creek Enquirer
The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, which owns the Emmett Township casino, announced a $5,004,207 payment to the FireKeepers Local Revenue Sharing Board. The payment represents 2 percent of the casino's annual slot machine revenue. It's partly used to reimburse governments that are losing tax revenue because the casino and the Athens-based tribe's Pine Creek Reservation are untaxable.
Also distributed on Friday was a $15,380,280 payment to the state of Michigan, accepted by Rep. Al Pscholka, R-Stevensville.
The local distribution is slightly lower than last year, when the tribe paid $5,266,401. It had increased every year since the casino opened and began the payments. In 2010, the first year it made the distribution, the tribe gave $1,933,683.
"Our tribe holds in high regards the revitalization efforts that have taken place in government-to-government relationships, to business-to-business relationships, and the revitalization of the economic development in the area of Calhoun County and the region," said Homer Mandoka, tribal council chairman.
So far, the tribe has paid $26 million to the revenue-sharing board and $73 million to the state. It also awarded $30.1 million in contracts in the state last year, $5.2 million of which was in Calhoun, Jackson and Branch counties.
Mandoka praised the tribal council, saying it focused on efforts that benefited members and strengthened local partnerships.
"Sometimes it's not just the quick and easy idea that is the best idea," he said. "They continually work hard and dissect to make sure it's a profitable and community event that's going to go on and make those achievements. If we close that gap that divides all of us, whether it's socially or economically, it's to the benefit of the entire community."
Pscholka, chairman of the state House Appropriations Committee, also applauded the casino's partnerships.
"Numbers are important, large checks are great," he said. "But it's the people behind the numbers that really make the difference."
Nearly 20 organizations, along with grant winners, have received money stemming from the casino's payments. The revenue-sharing board distributes the funding through a tiered system. Some of it goes toward administrative costs and then toward reimbursement requests. Eighty percent of what's left goes to governments losing tax revenue. The remainder goes to municipalities closest to the casino and through a competitive grant process.
Last year, Harper Creek Community Schools received the largest payment, about $2.1 million. Calhoun County was awarded nearly $630,000 and Emmett Township received about $470,000.
It's been about two years since FireKeepers opened its 242-room, resort-style hotel. It also has a 117,000-square foot gaming floor and a 2,000-seat entertainment venue that recently hosted performances by Tony Bennett, Chicago and The Band Perry.
The casino said in December it reached $200 million in cumulative paid labor costs — including wages, benefits and incentives — to the facility's 1,800 full- and part-time employees since opening in August 2009.
Reported by: Battle Creek Enquirer
