Hamilton Reef
02-20-2008, 01:29 PM
LRBOI - Tribe gets $1M grant for marina
http://www.record-eagle.com/local/local_story_051094614.html
02/20/08 By Melissa Domsic mdomsic@record-eagle.com
PESHAWBESTOWN A proposed large vessel marina recently snagged more than $1 million in federal funds.
The 100- to 130-slip, full-service marina could be built as early as this spring by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.
A grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will contribute $1.01 million to a project that has a total budget in the neighborhood of $5 million, said John Petoskey, general counsel for the band.
"It's just a lot of hard work on everybody's part," tribal Chairman Robert Kewaygoshkum said. "This is part of the process and there's a lot of work to go."
Tribal officials have applied for permission to lease state-owned lake bottomlands from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. They hope to have those secured by April, Petoskey said.
The Suttons Bay Township board passed a resolution last week to support the band's plans to lease the bottomlands for the marina.
"More marinas in the area I think would be a good thing," township Supervisor Richard Bahle said. "There is a significant waiting list at the village marina and there seems to be a market for more slips, and one of the things we're dependent on here for our economy is summer visitors and boaters."
Band officials are considering issuing tax exempt bonds for long-term financing to fund the project, Petoskey said.
"The borrowing is then paid back by operation income, from fees related to the marina," he said. "What we're doing right now is completing business plans and projected financial performance."
The marina, to be located just north of Leelanau Sands Casino, would accommodate vessels as large as 60 to 80 feet.
It would offer 30 transient boat slips, public fishing docks, a fuel station, convenience store, restrooms, showers, laundry and a shuttle service to area attractions and businesses.''
http://www.record-eagle.com/local/local_story_051094614.html
02/20/08 By Melissa Domsic mdomsic@record-eagle.com
PESHAWBESTOWN A proposed large vessel marina recently snagged more than $1 million in federal funds.
The 100- to 130-slip, full-service marina could be built as early as this spring by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.
A grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will contribute $1.01 million to a project that has a total budget in the neighborhood of $5 million, said John Petoskey, general counsel for the band.
"It's just a lot of hard work on everybody's part," tribal Chairman Robert Kewaygoshkum said. "This is part of the process and there's a lot of work to go."
Tribal officials have applied for permission to lease state-owned lake bottomlands from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. They hope to have those secured by April, Petoskey said.
The Suttons Bay Township board passed a resolution last week to support the band's plans to lease the bottomlands for the marina.
"More marinas in the area I think would be a good thing," township Supervisor Richard Bahle said. "There is a significant waiting list at the village marina and there seems to be a market for more slips, and one of the things we're dependent on here for our economy is summer visitors and boaters."
Band officials are considering issuing tax exempt bonds for long-term financing to fund the project, Petoskey said.
"The borrowing is then paid back by operation income, from fees related to the marina," he said. "What we're doing right now is completing business plans and projected financial performance."
The marina, to be located just north of Leelanau Sands Casino, would accommodate vessels as large as 60 to 80 feet.
It would offer 30 transient boat slips, public fishing docks, a fuel station, convenience store, restrooms, showers, laundry and a shuttle service to area attractions and businesses.''