Pokagon Band gains city support for casino ahead of BIA hearing


This image shows Alternative A for the land-into-trust site in South Bend, Indiana. No plans have been approved as of yet. Image from Pokagon EIS

The city council in South Bend, Indiana, voted unanimously to support a casino for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians.

The resolution cited the “significant potential benefits” of the tribe's plans to use 166 acres in the city for a casino, hotel, clinic and governmental offices. The vote came ahead of a Bureau of Indian Affairs public hearing on the environmental impact statement for the project.

"We have good relationships with South Bend city and community leaders, and look forward to working closely with all parties as we continue this process,” the tribe said in a statement, WNDU reported.

The public hearing takes place this evening at the Century Center in South Bend.

Get the Story:
South Bend council backs Pokagon casino project (The South Bend Tribune 4/14)
Casino plan meeting today (The South Bend Tribune 4/14)
South Bend Common Council Backs Pokagon Band Casino (Casino News Daily 4/14)
Common Council votes to welcome Pokagon to South Bend (WNDU 4/13)
South Bend council welcomes Pokagon development with casino (Fox 28 4/13)
South Bend Common Council votes to support Pokagon Band casino (WSBT 4/13)

Federal Register Notices:
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians Fee-to-Trust Transfer for Tribal Village and Casino, City of South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana (March 12, 2015)
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Pokagon Band Tribal Village Fee-to-Trust Acquisition and Casino Project in the City of South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN (August 24, 2012)

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