Beloit Casino Project Moving Forward
By: Import User
Updated: March 1, 2007
Beloit, Wisconsin- A casino project in Beloit is in its last stretch for final approval. For the past eight years, supporters of the project have worked to meet criteria for the casino`s development.
On Monday, the project finally took a step closer to becoming a reality as the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs gave the $200 million project regional approval.
"What the regional office did was establish that this is a good project for the tribes and it won`t be detrimental to Beloit and the surrounding community," says Joseph Hunt, spokesperson for the Beloit Casino Project.
But the casino isn`t a sure bet just yet. On Wednesday, a delegation of Rock County and Beloit officials along with the two American Indian tribes that will run the casino head to Washington D.C. Once there, they will have to get approval from the BIA`s Director of Indian Gaming.
Beloit officials say receiving approval in Washington will be easy to do now that they have secured regional approval.
"We`re reasonably and cautiously optimistic because approval by the regional director is a huge step forward in the ultimate approval process," says Larry Arft, Beloit`s City Manager.
"All we know is we`re going to keep fighting the fight," says Hunt. "The project is as important as when we started and we`re going to keep moving forward as quick as they`ll allow us."
And the quicker the better, according to city officials, who are looking forward to the economic opportunities they say the casino will bring.
"Once the casino is built and operational it will be hiring 3000 people creating 3000 jobs to run this massive complex," says Arft.
"It`s going to change what has been an economically depressed part of the state of Wisconsin and really gives it a shot in the arm," says Hunt.
If the project gets approval in Washington, the final step would be approval from Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle.
The proposed 100,000-square-foot casino will also include a conference and convention center, a 500 unit hotel, a year-round water park, child-care facility, and restaurants.
