Leaders of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, from left: Vice Chairperson Dorie Rios, Secretary Nancy Smit, Treasurer Jeff Chivis, Ph.D., Chairperson Jamie Stuck, and Sergeant-at-Arms Homer A. Mandoka. Photo courtesy Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi

Openings & Closings

Nottawaseppi Huron Band prepares for casino milestone with new hotel tower

Monday, June 3, 2019

The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi is preparing to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its casino in Michigan with a new hotel tower.

The FireKeepers Casino and Hotel currently features 243 rooms. The second tower will bring another 200 rooms to the facility.

"The new hotel will just allow us to bring more visitors to the town so that they can go to all the great things here in Calhoun County when they're not gaming," chief executive officer Kathy George said on the 95.3 WBCK Morning Show with Tim Collins.

Since the opening of FireKeepers in 2010, the tribe has shared more than $48.2 million with the local community, The Battle Creek Enquirer reported. Another $143.7 million has gone to the state of Michigan, bringing the total amount shared to more than $192.7 million.

In both instances, the payments represented an increase. The local payment went up was 1.63 percent higher than a year prior while the state payment was 2.03 percent higher.

“The leadership and tribal members of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi are proud to continue a pattern of impactful contributions to the State of Michigan and our Local community through the growth of our leading regional gaming destination at FireKeepers Casino Hotel,” Chairperson Jamie Stuck said in a news release on March 5.

Stuck has since been sworn in for another term as chairperson. Also remaining in officer positions on the tribal council are Dorie Rios as Vice Chairperson, Nancy Smit as Secretary, Jeff Chivis, Ph.D., as Treasurer, and Homer A. Mandoka as Sergeant-at-Arms.

A groundbreaking for the hotel tower project hasn't yet been announced.