Pokagon Band Touts Economic Impact

John Warren is chairman of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians.

The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians says its 2015 economic impact topped $80 million in Indiana and Michigan. The band says it invested over $17 million with more than 650 vendors in Indiana last year.

The band says its $81 million in investments does not include job creation and other secondary benefits from its Four Winds Casinos and other ventures. It reports nearly $250 million in investment in Indiana and Michigan over the last four years.

In a release, Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians Chairman John Warren said, "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."

The Pokagon Band’s non-gaming economic development enterprise, Mno-Bmadsen, invested more than $4.5 million in 2015. That includes the acquisition of mechanical trade contractor D.A. Dodd Inc., which has operations in Indiana and Michigan.

The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians’ service area includes six counties in northern Indiana and four in southwestern Michigan.