The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians is exploring alternatives to its long-stalled Fruitport Township casino plan after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declined to say whether she would endorse it.
With Whitmer’s term ending in early 2027, the tribe has begun engaging with potential future gubernatorial candidates to secure the final breakthrough needed for the casino.
Ogema Larry Romanelli said the Department of the Interior needs a clear “yes” or “no” from Whitmer to allow the tribe to move forward with the casino on Harvey Street in Fruitport Township. He expressed concerns that continued delays risk the expiration of multimillion-dollar economic and environmental impact studies already conducted for the site.
