The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi has announced the establishment of a new LLC that will pursue developments outside of the Southwest Michigan region.
The tribe says Four Winds Ventures, LLC is looking for opportunities in the development, management, and operation of businesses in commercial gaming, hospitality, and related sectors. Four Winds Ventures Board Chair Mary Smith tells us after operating Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo since 2007, the tribe sees a need to extend its reach. It has the knowledge.
“You know, other than commercial gaming, there’s hospitality and other related business sectors that we thought would be good opportunities for us to get a broader reach across the nation,” Smith said.
Smith says with Four Winds Ventures, the Pokagons could potentially operate new businesses across the country and even across the world.
“We may initially find something in this area, but the plan and goal is to really reach further out across the nation, and hopefully in the near future, be able to even potentially expand that to be outside of the U.S.”
Smith tells us Four Winds Ventures would benefit the tribe’s 6,300 members by providing the tribe with even greater resources for housing, medical care, and education. Plus, more revenue means more opportunities for cultural preservation.
So far, the Pokagon Band Tribal Council has appointed five executives to the Four Winds Ventures Board, and Smith says they’re looking for two more. Interested executives can learn more here.
