Pokagon Band Makes Over $81 Million in Additional Economic Investments to the Region in 2015

DOWAGIAC, MI--(Marketwired - Apr 25, 2016) - The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians is pleased to announce that it made over $81 million in additional economic investments to the region in 2015. These investments do not include annual payments made directly to the State of Michigan as mandated by the Band's compact, job creation, and other ancillary benefits resulting from its Four Winds Casinos and other ventures. The Pokagon Band has made approximately $248 million in additional investments to the economies of Michigan and Indiana over the last four years. 

"As the original inhabitants of the Michiana region, we support local communities by making millions of dollars in elective investments every year," said John P. Warren, Chairman of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. "These investments not only support area businesses through vendor payments, but also assist non-profit organizations, local governments, libraries, school districts, colleges, arts organizations, and students through direct donations from the Pokagon Fund and our three local revenue sharing boards."

In 2015, the Pokagon Band spent more than $67.1 million with 3,287 vendors in Michigan and Indiana, of which $49.6 million was spent with 2,610 vendors in Michigan and $17.4 million was spent with 677 vendors in Indiana. Additionally, the Pokagon Band provided $1.9 million to the Pokagon Fund, which is supported by electronic gaming revenue from the Pokagon Band's Four Winds New Buffalo. Through revenue generated from its casino locations, the Pokagon Band also made contributions of $4.4 million to the New Buffalo Local Revenue Sharing Board, $823,408 to the Hartford Local Revenue Sharing Board, and $612,872 to the Dowagiac Area Local Revenue Sharing Board. 

The Pokagon Band has made donations of $267,000 to Memorial Children's Hospital over the past four years through its sponsorship of the Four Winds Invitational. This includes a donation of $80,000 to Memorial Children's Hospital in 2015 to help fund a new multi-story home for Memorial Children's Hospital. Through its Four Winds Casinos, the Pokagon Band also donated $146,190 in gift cards to various charitable causes and events, and continued its support of the South Bend Cubs with the naming rights agreement for Four Winds Field. Just prior to Christmas, Four Winds Casinos donated of 1,000 baskets of food to local organizations in Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan for those in-need.

Mno-Bmadsen, the non-gaming economic development enterprise of the Pokagon Band, also invested $4.57 million in 2015. Since forming in 2007, it has invested $16.3 million in acquisitions and the development of its subsidiaries. Last year, Mno-Bmadsen, acquired D.A. Dodd, Inc., a mechanical trade contractor with operations in Indiana and Michigan.

About The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians
The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians' sovereignty was reaffirmed under legislation signed into law by President Clinton in September of 1994. The Pokagon Band is dedicated to providing community development initiatives such as housing, education, family services, medical care and cultural preservation for its approximately 5,000 Citizens. The Pokagon Band's ten county service area includes four counties in Southwestern Michigan and six in Northern Indiana. Its main administrative offices are located in Dowagiac, Mich., with a satellite office in South Bend, Ind. In 2007, it opened Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo, Mich., followed by Four Winds Hartford® in 2011 and Four Winds Dowagiac® in 2013. More information is available at www.pokagonband-nsn.gov.