FIREKEEPERS CASINO HOTEL ANNOUNCES REVENUE SHARING CONTRIBUTIONS

THE NOTTAWASEPPI HURON BAND OF THE POTAWATOMI AND FIREKEEPERS CASINO HOTEL ACHIEVE FIFTH STRAIGHT YEAR OF RECORD CONTRIBUTIONS WITH $24.7 MILLION TO THE STATE OF MICHIGAN AND THE LOCAL REVENUE SHARING BOARD

TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS EXCEED $200M SINCE OPEN AND CONTRIBUTIONS GROW FOR THE FIFTH STRAIGHT YEAR.

(Battle Creek, Mich.) February 26, 2019 — The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP), owners of FireKeepers Casino Hotel in Battle Creek, today announced that combined lifetime revenue sharing payments to the State of Michigan and the Local Revenue Sharing Board have exceeded $217 million! The continued operating excellence of the property led to its fifth consecutive new annual contribution record, with combined payments of over $24.7 million to the State of Michigan and the FireKeepers Local Revenue Sharing Board (FLRSB).

Payments have increased every year except one time versus the prior year since the doors opened in August 2009. The payment to the State of Michigan totals more than $18.9 million, an increase of 2.31% over the 2019 payment, while the payment to the FLRSB of over $5.8 million is 1.86% higher than one year ago. This brings the total monies NHBP has contributed to the State of Michigan to over $162.7 million and $54.8 million to the FLRSB and creates a combined lifetime contribution which totals $217,494,894!

Two checks were presented from NHBP today; the first for $18,922,234 presented to Matt Hall, who represents the 63^rd District in the Michigan House of Representatives, a region which includes FireKeepers Casino Hotel. The second check for $5,855,558 was presented to FLRSB Secretary Derek King, who is also a Calhoun County Commissioner.

The funds distributed are part of a negotiated agreement between NHBP and the state for 2019 operations at NHBP’s FireKeepers Casino Hotel.

“Contributing over $217 million creates an awesome impact for our state and local region and this announcement is a milepost of great pride for tribal members of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi and the staff and management of FireKeepers Casino Hotel,” announced Jamie Stuck, Tribal Council Chairperson of the NHBP. “Consistently growing the business and expanding our base of loyal guests, who we attract from across Michigan, plus large sections of neighboring states such as Indiana, Ohio and Illinois, indicates our team is focused on delivering award-winning service experiences every day.”

FireKeepers employs 1,802 team members, as one of the region’s leading employers. The focus on increasing jobs and providing an outstanding package of salaries and benefits is illustrated by an increase in labor costs of 3.77% in 2019 versus 2018, and cumulative paid labor costs since opening now exceeding $646 million. This investment includes total wages, health insurance, 401(k), and incentives.

“The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi are the best owners in the hospitality industry, providing a fantastic package of salaries and benefits to attract the spectacular men and women who form our great team, plus the substantial investment dollars to maintain and expand our resort. Every day we witness the physical manifestation of this support, as construction of our second hotel tower moves forward in anticipation of a grand opening late this year,” stated Kathy George, Chief Executive Officer at FireKeepers Casino Hotel. “I am so proud of the service our team delivers every day, and that’s what generates guest loyalty and return trips.”

The tribe and the casino also focus on reinvesting in local communities, plus hundreds of charitable endeavors throughout Michigan and neighboring states through donations and sponsorships. The most significant investment is The Fire Hub restaurant in downtown Battle Creek, which opened in 2017, and combines an exciting restaurant and bakery concept with an adjacent dignified Kendall Street Food Pantry, operating as an agency of the Food Bank of South Central Michigan. Just one of many examples of the connected success of both the restaurant and food bank is a check presentation of $11,242 from 2019 restaurant proceeds, presented today to Peter Vogel, Executive Director of The Food Bank of South Central Michigan.

FireKeepers expands its brand and sponsors major events such as the FireKeepers Casino 400, a NASCAR Cup Series race, set for June 7 at Michigan International Speedway and the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Golf Championship, a Symetra Tour, Road to the LPGA tournament, to be held July 24-26 at Battle Creek Country Club.

A 2016 Compact Amendment between NHBP and the State of Michigan provides for a payment of up to $500,000 per year of state revenue sharing payments to the Michigan Native American Heritage Fund. Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Chairperson Jamie Stuck and Vice Chairperson Dorie Rios are appointed members to the Heritage Fund Board. In 2019, this fund provided financial assistance and/or reimbursement to seven local governments and educational institutions to defray the costs of projects that promote positive relationships and accurate information on the history and role of Michigan’s Indian tribes and Native Americans in the state. Grant recipients include Northern Michigan University’s Anishinabek language programs for graduate and undergraduate programs and Godfrey-Lee Public Schools to rebrand to a culturally responsive mascot and nickname.

The NHBP has made a concentrated effort to focus FireKeepers Casino Hotel on supporting local businesses and suppliers and extend contributions to the local economy beyond the FLRSB and the distribution to the state. The Tribe’s consistent commitment to improving and expanding the FireKeepers property is highlighted in 2019 by groundbreaking and early construction stages for a new 200-room hotel tower, due to be complete in late 2020. Therefore, spending in the State of Michigan, especially in our local areas, grew substantially in awarding contracts in excess of $52.9 million in 2019 and is just shy of the $500 million dollar mark since opening.

Greater Calhoun County Region $7.3 million (Calhoun, Jackson, Branch)
West Michigan $10.6 million (Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Grand Traverse, Kalamazoo, Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa, Van Buren)
Lansing Area $16 million (Ingham, Eaton, Clinton)
Metro Detroit $2.7 million (Wayne)
Other $16.3 million (Chippewa, Genesee, Gratiot, Ionia, Livingston, Macomb, Manistee, Marquette, Mecosta, Midland, Monroe, Newaygo, Oakland, Saginaw, St. Clair, Shiawassee, Washtenaw, Wexford)

The check presented to the FLRSB is the eleventh distribution since the first distribution in Feb. 2010, when the NHBP presented a check to the FLRSB for nearly $2 million. 2019 marks the seventh consecutive year where annual payments have exceeded $5 million. The $54,817,832 distributed to date have benefited a diverse array of groups, including:

Harper Creek Community Schools
Calhoun County Road Commission
Emmett Township
Calhoun County
Calhoun Intermediate School District
Kellogg Community College
Willard Library
Athens Township
Marshall Township
City of Marshall
City of Battle Creek
Athens Area Schools
Village of Athens
Battle Creek Public Schools
Marshall Public Schools
Lakeview School District
Pennfield Schools

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About The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi

NHBP, a federally recognized Tribal government with more than 1,600 enrolled Tribal Members, gained federal recognition December 19, 1995. The Tribe’s main offices are located at the Pine Creek Indian Reservation near Athens, Michigan, and in Grand Rapids, Michigan. NHBP provides benefits, programs and services to Tribal Members through various Tribal government departments, as well as a Tribal Police Department, Tribal Court and Gaming Commission. For more information visit: www.nhbpi.com.

NHBP, through a 100% Tribally-owned holding company, Waséyabek Development Company, LLC (WDC), has a broad commitment to economic development. The purpose of WDC is to contribute to the development of a stable, diversified economy for members of NHBP and contribute to their long-term sustainability and self-sufficiency; while managing risk and creating quality employment opportunities for Tribal Members. This is accomplished through developing a diversified portfolio of non-gaming companies consisting of commercial real estate, commercial operating businesses, and operating businesses focused on offering goods and services to the US Federal government. In the last three years, WDC has grown from 3 employees to 285, from 3 subsidiaries to 14, and has deployed $50MM towards economic development; much of it in the State of Michigan. Most recently, WDC co-invested with a sister Potawatomi Tribe, Gun Lake Investments, to purchase the McKay Tower building in downtown Grand Rapids. For more information visit: www.waseyabek.com.

FireKeepers Casino Hotel, located just off Interstate 94 at Exit 104 in Battle Creek, MI, has been named Best Casino by audiences in Western Michigan and Northern Indiana, plus earned multiple awards in the Casino Player Magazine Best of Gaming 2019 Native Midwest category, including Best Casino. FireKeepers was recognized as 2019 Employer of the Year by Michigan Works! Association and was also selected as one of the Best Casinos to Work For by Casino Player Magazine. FireKeepers' signature restaurant, Nibi, is a multiple recipient of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. The property features 2,900 slot machines, 70 table games, a live poker room, and bingo room. FireKeepers offers a AAA-rated Four Diamond resort-style hotel with 243 rooms, a functional multi-purpose event center, six distinctive dining destinations, and multiple lounges. Driven by high demand, construction on a second hotel tower is underway and expected to be complete in late 2020. FireKeepers is the title sponsor of the FireKeepers Casino 400, a NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway, and host of the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship a Symetra Tour-Road to the LPGA golf event. For more information, visit www.firekeeperscasino.com.

FireKeepers Casino Hotel is owned and operated by the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi.