The FireKeepers Casino Hotel of Michigan have announced they are working on a new initiative that will bring value to the local community. The casino will be investing in a non-profit, providing a yet to be named venture that will combine a restaurant with gardens that grow foods for a food pantry as well as local schools.

Back in April, the owners of the casino, the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi, along with the casino, purchased Fire Station #4, located in Battle Creek. The fire station will be the new home to the nonprofit venture that will hopefully open in the fall of 2016.

The basis of the project is to create Hub that will have positive spokes around the location of the main hub. The concept was created by Vice President of the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Food and Beverage sector, Michael McFarlen. There will be several ‘spokes’ involved including a restaurant that will offer sandwiches, pizzas, desserts and a bakery. A downtown meeting space will also be included.

The main goal of the project is to provide for the community. There will be multiple programs in place to do so. The back section of the fire station building will be used to create a food pantry, working with the Food Bank of South Central Michigan. Food will be distributed to those in need. Land located next to the building will be used for farming, with an end goal of providing Battle Creek downtown area schools with a free salad bar. A fund will also be created to help support charities in the local area, with the casino offering 80% of profits from the restaurant to the charity.

Jamie Stuck, Chairman of the NHBP Tribal Council, stated that the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Pottawatomi are thrilled to be involved in the amazing community initiative. According to Stuck, the group will be able to deliver the best casino resort product while also focusing on improving the lives of local residents.