5 W. MI companies get work on BC casino

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (WOOD) - Five West Michigan companies are getting work orders for the construction of the FireKeepers Casino.

The Skillman Corporation of Grand Rapids, Grand River Construction of Hudsonville, Valley City Sign Company of Comstock Park, Stress-Con Industries and Stafford Smith of Kalamazoo will all have roles in the casino's construction.

The FireKeepers Casino is scheduled to open in late summer 2009 in Battle Creek.

Valley City Sign will use LED technology to make a 50 foot tall entrance sign for the casino. The LEDs will help lower energy consumption. The message board sign will be installed at the entrance in January.

The Skillman Corporation will be responsible for project administration and oversight services.

Stress-Con Industries will do pre-cast concrete and Stafford Smith will supply food service equipment. Grand River Construction was tasked for work on the casino and parking ramp.

From the release:

FireKeepers Casino will feature Las Vegas-style gaming, including 2,500 slot machines, 90 table games and a 20-table poker room.

The $300 million casino will be 236,000 square feet with an attached and enclosed 2,078- space parking garage. FireKeepers Casino is expected to employ 2,200 employees - 700 construction workers and 1,500 permanent casino employees. At its peak, 300 construction workers will be onsite with over 700 workers needed in total to complete this effort for a projected $8 million labor payroll.

Stafford Smith will provide food service equipment for the employee dining area and the five dining outlets at FireKeepers Casino, including a 70-seat fine dining signature restaurant, a 300-seat buffet, a 150-seat 24-hour coffee shop, a 110-seat fast food court and a Grab-N-Go coffee counter.

Since beginning work on the FireKeepers project six weeks ago, Stafford Smith has added five employees to support the project, including a project superintendent and installers. The company plans to complete the project in June.

The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi gave a mandate to the general contractor, Clark Construction Co. Inc. of Lansing, to hire local contractors and Native Americans whenever possible.

One of the Tribes primary goals with FireKeepers Casino is to provide jobs and economic stimulus for the southwest Michigan region, said Laura W. Spurr, Chair of the FireKeepers Development Authority.

Site preparation for FireKeepers Casino began last May. Installation of site utilities and laying down the concrete foundation was finished in June. The enclosure of the building structure was completed in October. Interior work is currently underway during the winter months with exterior work scheduled for spring leading to a late summer of 2009 opening.