SOUTH SUBURBAN VILLAGE VOTES TO APPROVE CASINO DEVELOPMENT PLAN

The Village of Matteson’s Board of Trustees recently voted unanimously to approve the Choctaw Nation’s plans to develop a casino in the community. Photo Credit: Provided by the Village of Matteson
The Village of Matteson’s Board of Trustees recently voted unanimously to approve the Choctaw Nation’s plans to develop a casino in the community. Photo Credit: Provided by the Village of Matteson

South Suburban Village Votes To Approve Casino Development Plan

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

The Village of Matteson’s Board of Trustees and Village President, Sheila Chalmers-Currin, recently voted to unanimously approve the Choctaw Nation’s plan to develop a casino in the Village. The development plan includes a casino, a hotel, a convention space, and several dining options.

“I believe this project will be an asset not just to Matteson, but to the entire Southland Region,” said Chalmers-Currin. “After interviewing multiple casino operators, we felt the team led by the Choctaw Nation provided the best combination of experience, vision, community engagement, and a financially feasible plan.”

The Village of Matteson’s partner on the casino development plan is the Choctaw Nation, which is the third-largest Indian Nation in the United States. Choctaw Nation’s Division of Commerce manages an array of businesses including 22 gaming sites, three resorts, six hotels, an RV park, and 12 ranches and farms encompassing 65,000 acres, according to information provided by the Choctaw Nation.

“We’re honored with the chance to match our team’s experience with the community of Matteson and to create jobs and opportunity across the south suburbs,” said Janie Dillard, senior executive director of commerce for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. “Matteson is ideally located for a successful casino project.”

In agreement with Dillard, Chalmers-Currin has stated on several occasions that she believes Matteson is the “absolute best location in southern Cook County” due to it’s proximity to neighboring Will County and its access to Interstates 57 and 80.

If approved by the state, the development is planned for the corner of Lincoln Highway and Harlem Avenue in the Village of Matteson. The project will feature 2,000 gaming positions, a high-end restaurant, a food hall, a 200-room hotel, and a 36,000 square foot convention space that can be used for concerts, banquets, or community events, according to information provided by the Village of Matteson.

Chalmers-Currin said that not only will the Matteson casino be a destination for residents and travelers, but the project will also be integrated with the South Suburban community and utilize local minority business enterprises for partnerships. Additionally, the development will include space dedicated to preserving and sharing the multi-cultural history of the area, according to information provided by the Village of Matteson.

Before the project can move forward, it will require approval from the State of Illinois which just recently passed legislation to allow for the construction of a casino in the Greater Southland Region.

Currently, there are six south suburban casino development plans hoping to be approved by the state. Casino development plans have been submitted by Country Club Hills, Lynwood, Calumet City, Crestwood, and a joint proposal that has been submitted by Homewood and East Hazel Crest.

For more information on the Choctaw Nation, visit www.choctawnation.com.

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