Casino talk for Sturgis area

STURGIS, Mich. (WOOD) - Another new casino could soon appear in West Michigan. But according to the state, don't get too optimistic.

Sturgis City Manager Michael Hughes told 24 Hour News 8 Vanguard Entertainment, a Michigan-based gaming company, is in negotiations with an as-yet-unnamed Indian tribe to build a casino near the I-80/90 toll road.

Hughes said attorneys for Vanguard approached him about two weeks ago and made him aware of their concept to build a mixed-use development near Sturgis. The $150 million development would include retail space, approximately 400 hotel rooms, restaurants, a truck stop, a sports bar and a casino with gaming venues.

He indicated Vanguard and the unnamed tribe are "...interested in moving this along quickly." He also said the tribe and Vanguard may already have options on some of the 200 acres they are interested in acquiring for this project.

The casino and associated businesses have the potential to create 2,000 permanent jobs for the community. And perhaps as many as 1,200 temporary jobs could be available during construction.

Hughes called the proposed development a "...substantial development project like we haven't seen in Sturgis."

But the state says any tribal casino is likely years away. A state official in charge of gaming for the governor's office told 24 Hour News 8 a tribe would first have to get the land put into federal trust and then negotiate, or renegotiate, a gaming compact with the state.

He said he is not aware of any tribe applying to put land into trust in the Sturgis area, and no tribe has asked to change its gaming compact to allow such a casino.

In the past, casino opponents have sued to block land being placed into trust for projects in Wayland Township and near Battle Creek. Both tribes eventually won those lawsuits, but the projects were tied up in court for years.

It is possible a casino project in Sturgis would see similar opposition and delays.

Hughes also told 24 Hour News 8 the project has not been formally proposed to the city commission yet. Representatives from Vanguard and the tribe are expected to make their proposal at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11 during their regularly scheduled commission meeting.