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Date: March 13, 2003

GUN LAKE CASINO WILL BENEFIT GRAND RAPIDS AND KENT COUNTY SAYS MATCH-E-BE-NASH-SHE-WISH BAND OF POTTAWATOMI INDIANS

Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce Anti-Competition Stand Is Out Of Step with All Other Area Chambers of Commerce and Key Business Organizations

Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band Of Pottawatomi Indians Looks Forward To Bringing 4,300 Jobs, Local Supplier Purchases, Local and State Revenue Sharing, Economic Development And A Proven Recreational Attraction To Area

DORR, Mich., March, 13, 2003 -- Editors Note: The following statement may be attributed to Mr. D. K. Sprague, Tribal Chairman, Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, also known as the Gun Lake Tribe:

"The Gun Lake Casino will be an area attraction that will benefit this whole region in the same way that the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce says its tourism advertising program, with its focus on downtown Grand Rapids, will benefit the entire region."

"The Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce is clearly out of step with the six other area chambers of commerce, ranging from the Wayland Chamber of Commerce to the Kalamazoo Chamber of Commerce; and other area business organizations, all of whom have endorsed the Gun Lake Casino.

"Why should Grand Rapids have an entertainment monopoly in the area? Chambers of commerce organizations have traditionally argued for free and open competition in the marketplace. Why is the Grand Rapids Chamber trying to stop economic development and the jobs and local revenue sharing the Gun Lake Casino brings to our area? Why are they afraid of free market competition, which will also directly benefit Grand Rapids?

"It has become a basic fact of life that gaming is necessary to compete in tourism today. The Gun Lake Casino, only 25 minutes from Grand Rapids, will directly benefit the tourism and convention efforts of Grand Rapids and Kent County.

"The Gun Lake Casino has no hotel, and food service only in the casino. Customers will naturally seek accommodations throughout the area, as they have in other Michigan communities with American Indian casinos.

"The Environmental Assessment we completed for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) resulted from an exhaustive two-year study with nationally-recognized specialists in the field who are greatly respected for their professional independence and integrity. We have full confidence in the studies we have done and provided to the proper governmental authorities. We firmly believe that they will stand up to any honest examination.

"We know that the Gun Lake Casino will bring great benefits including 4,300 badly needed jobs, local supplier purchases, local and state revenue sharing, economic development and a proven recreational attraction to this part of the state.

"That is why the Gun Lake Casino has already been supported by 6,000 grassroots members of FOGLI [Friends Of Gun Lake Indians] and other organizations including:

• Allegan Area Chamber of Commerce
• Barry County Area Chamber of Commerce
• Barry County Economic Alliance
• Dorr Business Association
• Gun Lake Chamber of Commerce
• Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Kalamazoo Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Plainwell Chamber of Commerce
• Wayland Area Chamber of Commerce
• Wayland Township
• City of Wayland
• Six of nine Allegan County Board of Commissioners
• Superintendents of Wayland and Allegan Public Schools
• Deputy Sheriff's Association (For the entire State of Michigan)