Pokagon Band Makes Over $88 Million in Additional Contributions in 2014

DOWAGIAC, MI--(Marketwired - Feb 20, 2015) - The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians is pleased to announce that it made over $88 million in additional contributions to the Michiana economy in 2014. These contributions 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 $167 million in additional contributions to the Michiana economy over the last three years. 

"The Pokagon Band is proud to have called Michigan and Indiana home for hundreds of years and we are fortunate to be in a position to give back in such meaningful ways. This includes direct contributions, payments to local businesses and vendors, and support of other charitable organizations," said John P. Warren, Chairman of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. "We are also pleased to be one of the largest employers in Michiana with more than 2,500 people."

In 2014, the Pokagon Band spent more than $74.3 million with 2,202 vendors in Michiana, of which $66.6 million was spent with 1,679 vendors in Michigan and $7.7 million was spent with 523 vendors in Indiana. Additionally, the Pokagon Band provided $1.8 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 $5.4 million to the New Buffalo Local Revenue Sharing Board, $990,956 to the Hartford Local Revenue Sharing Board, and $667,356 to the Dowagiac Area Local Revenue Sharing Board. 

The Pokagon Band has made donations of $187,000 to Memorial Children's Hospital over the past three years through its sponsorship of the Four Winds Invitational. This includes a donation of $77,500 to Memorial Children's Hospital in 2014 to purchase Giraffe Warmers for its Newborn Intensive Care Unit. Through its Four Winds Casinos, the Pokagon Band also donated $130,400 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.

Mno-Bmadsen, the non-gaming economic development charter for the Pokagon Band, also invested $3.7 million in 2014. Since forming in 2007, it has invested $12.3 million in acquisitions and the development of its subsidiaries including Seven Generations Architecture and Engineering, Accu-Mold injection molding manufacturing plant, and Bent Tree Market convenience store and gas station, located near Four Winds Dowagiac.

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 4,900 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.