Ho-Chunk Beloit casino complex wins federal approval, clearing the way for construction to begin
The Ho-Chunk tribe's decade-old dream of opening a massive casino complex in Beloit cleared its last federal hurdle Friday when the Bureau of Indian Affairs gave the project its final blessing.
"This is tremendous," Ho-Chunk spokesman Ryan Greendeer said. "This is the final approval. From here we could start building."
The project has been in the works for about 10 years as the tribe, which is headquartered in Black River Falls, earlier negotiated agreements with state and local authorities. The tribe has several casinos in the state, including its flagship gambling hall near the Wisconsin Dells.
Gov. Tony Evers approved the $405 million project last year.
The federal government said Friday it would place 32-acres of land into trust to be used for the casino.
Earlier the BIA approved the casino plan saying it would benefit the tribe and the community.
Plans call for building the complex just west of Interstate 39/90. In addition to a casino the project plans call for building a convention center, hotel and a water park. The tribe has predicted it would create 1,300 permanent jobs and 3,000 construction jobs.
"The (Ho-Chunk) Nation sees this project as an investment to recover from pandemic and create new economic opportunities for everyone," Greendeer said.
“The Nation, our partners, and this community have been anticipating this moment for years,” says Karena Thundercloud, Ho-Chunk vice president said in a statement issued by the tribe and the city.
“There’s been some skepticism about the timeline because of the Nation’s reliance on the federal processes but we’ve been confident in the project’s viability and look forward to a bright future for Beloit, the state of Wisconsin, and the Ho-Chunk Nation.”
Sen. Tammy Baldwin noted the Biden Administration is the third administration the tribe has worked with in its efforts to win federal approval for the casino.
“The Ho-Chunk casino in Beloit will be an economic boon to the Rock County area, creating thousands of good paying jobs, supporting additional business development, and enabling long needed infrastructure improvements for the area” Baldwin said in a statement.
Baldwin said that in addition to creating jobs in the community and development will provide the Ho-Chunk "with a long-term source of revenue to provide essential housing, educational, and health programs for their members.”
The federal government has approved only a handful of off-reservation casinos across the nation. The Potawatomi casino in MIlwaukee is the only off-reservation casino in Wisconsin.
As governor Evers has unilateral authority to approve or veto any off-reservation casino in the state. About seven years ago, Evers' predecessor, Scott Walker, killed the Menominee tribe's bid to open a casino complex in Kenosha.
Contact Cary Spivak at (414) 550-0070 or cspivak@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @cspivak.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Ho-Chunk plans to open Beloit casino complex clears its final hurdle
