Bay Mills Indians Get $600,000 HUD Grant for Housing & Economic Development

HUD Press Release

HUD AWARDS $52.6 MILLION TO NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES FOR HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES

Bay Mills Indian Community of Brimley, Michigan, will receive $600,000

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded more than $52 million in grants to tribal communities in 21 states to improve or create housing and economic development opportunities for low- to moderate-income families. The competitive grants are provided through HUD’s Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) Program to support a wide variety of community development and affordable housing activities.

“These funds will help American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments create sustainable and community-driven solutions,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. “Housing and infrastructure needs in Indian Country are severe and widespread. I’m inspired by the work the tribal communities are taking on to leverage these funds and get their communities on the right track.”

Among the 69 recipients:

State	Recipient	Location	Amount
California	Chemehuevi Indian Tribe	Havasu Lake	$605,000
Michigan	Bay Mills Indian Community	Brimley	$600,000
New York	St. Regis Band of Mohawk Indians of New York	Akwesasne	$600,000

Original HUD Press Release

Also see:

• Really? Poor Impoverished Indian Tribes have spent $5.6 million Lobbying for Casinos
• Casino Related Partners & Affiliates of Michael Malik and the Ilitch Family have paid Michigan Lobbyists nearly $240,000

Compendium of posts regarding Bay Mills Indian Community's plastics ventures

The following are posts made previously to TVT related to the various plastics business enterprises (Integrated Composites LLC, Polycom Inc., Great Lakes Composite Institute, International Composites Institute of Michigan, etc.) involving Anthony Andary, the Bay Mills Indian Community, Jeff Parker and Michael J. Malik, Sr.:

• Jeff Parker, Bay Mills' plastics ventures rumored to be subject of FBI investigation
• BIA approves Bay Mills land-in-trust application for plastics venture
• Tribe to borrow $4 million to fund federal grant requirement, other investments in Plastics venture
• Tribe's chair reported two members were hired for its plastics business
• International Composite Institute of Michigan pitched to EUP Workforce Development Board
• Bay Mills plastics venture awarded $906k U.S. Commerce Dept. grant
• Bay Mills GTC ignored tribe members request for investigation into structure of plastics venture
• Gaming Tribe seeks to diversify while developer still pushing off-reservation casino
• Concerns raised about Malik & Bay Mills Tribe's Plastics Business long before $900k federal grant awarded
• Bay Mills & Malik get into Plastics; Senator Stabenow announces they'll get $900,000 federal jumpstart
• UPDATE: More Money (post election) to Sen. Stabenow brings total to $117,200 from Malik & the Ilitch Family
• Bay Mills Indians have received more than $35 million in federal grants since 2000

BIA approves Bay Mills land-in-trust application for plastics venture

3.21.07

BIA puts Bay Mills property into trust

Kalvin Perron
Staff Reporter

BRIMLEY - "This is something that doesn't happen very often," said an ecstatic Bay Mills Indian Community Tribal Chairman Jeffrey Parker after learning that the Bureau of Indian Affairs had agreed to put 110-plus acres of tribally-owned property into trust. The site, located at M-28 and I-75, will be used for the construction of the Great Lakes Composites Institute. "Based on the circumstances, this is a very significant event," said Parker.

One of the circumstances Parker was referring to in that statement was how rare it is for the BIA to actually approve a tribe's land-into-trust application, even if they plan on using the land for non-gaming purposes. In addition to how rare they are granted, Parker said there are currently no timelines imposed on the BIA, which basically means they can take as long as they want to complete the application process. Applications can and do pile up on shelves collecting dust without so much as being glanced at and some tribes have even waited over a decade before ever receiving an answer, he added. What makes the event even more significant is the fact that non-gaming applications take the back burner to applications for gaming acquisitions, which the BIA currently has given a higher priority to.

Not wanting Bay Mills' land-into-trust application to suffer the same fate as some of the less fortunate tribes who were stuck waiting for a response from the BIA, Parker said he journeyed to the BIA's central office in Washington D.C. last fall to meet with the Associate Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior James E. Cason. At the meeting, Parker not only presented Cason with product samples from the Great Lakes Composites line, but he carefully laid out the business plan for the institute and explained how the tribe's current land base couldn't sustain an economic development of that magnitude.

At that meeting with Cason, Parker said as the BIA meticulously looked over the tribe's business plan and future plans for the 110-acre parcel of land, and were impressed with the fact that the tribe's proposed development wasn't focused on gaming. According to Parker, the tribe's sophisticated economic development plans, in a sector other than gaming, is ultimately what swayed the BIA to put the land into trust. He added that the overwhelming support Bay Mills received from the local community, most notably a resolution of support from the Chippewa County Board of Commissioners, was also a major factor in their decision.

"Other entities, outside of our own tribe, are looking at what we're doing and are impressed with the initiative we took and want to get involved," Parker said. "The bottom line is - the land went into trust because people believed in our project."

With Bay Mills already having received notification that they had received a $906,000 grant from the Economic Development Administration of the United States Department of Commerce for the construction of the Great Lakes Composites Institute, Parker said getting the land put into trust was the last major hurdle the tribe had to overcome to begin the project. With both out of the way, Parker said the groundbreaking for the 25,000 square-foot building would begin in the spring. If all goes according to plans, Parker said the structure should be completed by December.

NOTE: It was previously reported that Detroit-based casino syndicator Michael J. Malik, Sr. owned 49% of the Bay Mills' plastics enterprises.

Tribe to borrow $4 million to fund federal grant requirement, other investments in Plastics venture

from a report of the 3.12.07 Bay Mills Indian Community Executive Council meeting published at BayMillsNews.com:

The next agenda item to be discussed was the authorization to borrow funds from National City Bank. Chairman Jeffrey Parker said the money the tribe is looking to borrow, between $3 and $4 million, would serve several different purposes.

Although Parker said the money would be used primarily to refinance the tribe's current debt, he added that a portion of it ($650,000) would be used to fund assets the tribe will be acquiring from FiberForm for the Great Lakes Composites Institute, in addition to any future licenses it may need. Another portion ($600,000) is needed for the match on the Economic Development Administration Grant the tribe was recently awarded for the construction of that institute, he added.

Parker said the purchasing of the equipment for the institute is a necessity since there are already a number of applications for research and development services "waiting in the wings." He added the money could possibly be used to buy out one of PolyComp's shareholders within the next couple of years should the opportunity arise.

Bay Mills Chief Financial Officer Mike Brooks said the amount requested would cost the tribe $35,700 for the first two years, after which they could renegotiate. After a brief discussion, a resolution to borrow the funds from National City Bank was approved.

Funds borrowed by the tribe are said to be directed toward these and other possible entities:

1. Fiberform, Inc. (development of processes, equipment and production of specialty fiber reinforced thermoplastic materials) was incorporated in 2004 by:
   
• Timothy L. Collins, President
• Joel A. Dyksterhouse, Vice President
• Anthony E. Andary
  


2. Great Lakes Composites Institute is not registered with the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth.



3. Polycomp, Inc. was incorporated by R. Charles Balmer of Royal Oak, MI, in 1998; his attorney was Gregory Kudela. From 1999-2003, the corporation filed documents indicating Balmer was President and Treasurer; Joel Dyksterhouse was Secretary. In 2004 it was noted Dyksterhouse had become President; Jane Balmer was Secretary; and Timothy L. Collins was Vice President & Treasurer. Jane Balmer was dropped in 2005.


In May 2007, documents were filed naming Allyn J. Cameron as President and resident agent of Polycomp Inc. at an address in Brimley, MI.


4. International Composites Institute of Michigan was formed in November 2004 by:
   
   • Anthony E. Andary; and
   • Joel Dyksterhouse
   
   Andary is recorded as president in a 2005 filing.



5. Integrated Composites, LLC was formed in September 2003, by Jeffrey Parker. Anthony Andary was managing member in 2004, 2006 & 2007. Jeffrey Parker was managing member in 2005.

NOTE: It was previously reported by Bay Mills General Tribal Council Chairman Jeff Parker that Michael J. Malik, Sr. owns 49% of the tribe's plastics venture. It is not clear which entity(ies) Malik is bankrolling.

you may also want to review these additional posts or click on the "labels" below for other related posts:

• Bay Mills GTC ignored tribe members request for investigation into structure of plastics venture
• Tribe's chair reported two members were hired for its plastics business
• Bay Mills plastics venture awarded $906k U.S. Commerce Dept. grant

Los Coyotes Indians have received $4.8 million in federal grants since 2000

According to resources available at FedSpending.org, the Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians with 288 members (as acknowledged by DOI ) received more than $4.8 million in federal grants from FY 2000 - FY 2005.

This does not include any entities that the Los Coyotes Band of Indians might benefit from or be affiliated with that do not include “Los Coyotes” in the organization’s name.

FedSpending.Org

a project of OMB Watch

Los Coyotes Federal Grants FY 2000-2006
Fiscal Year	# Grants Recipients	Total $
2000	03	$349,865
2001	05	$1,289,175
2002	05	$668,846
2003	03	$773,841
2004	03	$965,738
2005	04	$771,740
2006	n/a	n/a
Total	23	$4,819,205

These Los Coyotes affiliates received grants:

• Los Coyotes Band Location: 02
• Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians
• Los Coyotes Band of Indians
• Los Coyotes Band of Mission In
• Los Coyotes Band of Mission Indians
• Los Coyotes Indian Reservation

http://www.fedspending.org/faads/faads.php?recipient_name=los+coyotes&sortby=r&detail=0&datype=T&reptype=r&database=faads&fiscal_year=&submit=GO

you may want to review these posts or click on the labels below for related posts:

• Sacramento lawmakers and journalists aren't getting the whole truth from Los Coyotes tribe's elder nor her partners
• Barwest's partners signed Compacts under false pretense; knew they would never make the May 31, 2007 deadline
• Another North County Tribe Expands Gaming While Los Coyotes Lobbys for Special Treatment
• Impoverished Northeastern San Diego Tribe proves it can be done; celebrates opening of County's newest casino resort
• BIA's last official public accounting of Pending Gaming Applications
• Mayor doing damage control for gaming syndicators says casino deal not yet a bust
• Barstow gaming compacts aren't fair, equitable or justifed when other tribes are held back
• Compacts for non-gaming tribes being considered in California present inequities
• Cahuilla traditional territory was south of the San Bernardino Mountains
• Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians makes its home on the southernmost of Cahuilla Reservations
• EDITORIAL: Regardless of extensions, casino plan for Barstow is bad policy and poor precedent
• Tribe's casino pointman can't pinpoint location of proposed casino on map
• Casino developer may have mislead Schwarzenegger's negotiator to get approvals for twin casinos

Big Lagoon Rancheria has received $1.9 million in federal grants since 2000

According to resources available at FedSpending.org, the Big Lagoon Rancheria with 18 members (as acknowledged by DOI ) received more than $1.9 million in federal grants from FY 2000 - FY 2005.

This does not include any entities that the Big Lagoon Rancheria might benefit from or be affiliated with that do not include “Big Lagoon” in the organization’s name.

FedSpending.Org

a project of OMB Watch

Big Lagoon Rancheria Federal Grants FY 2000-2006
Fiscal Year	# Grants Recipients	Total $
2000	01	$54,000
2001	01	$397,661
2002	01	$147,576
2003	01	$159,160
2004	01	$427,422
2005	01	$715,230
2006*	01	$54,560
Total	07	$1,955,609
* First Quarter only

http://www.fedspending.org/faads/faads.php?recipient_name=Big+Lagoon+Rancheria&sortby=r&detail=0&datype=T&reptype=r&database=faads&fiscal_year=&submit=GO

you may want to review these posts or click on the labels below for related posts:

• 'Disadvantaged' Tribe has amassed additional property valued at $2.65 million
• Even without Casino, Humboldt Tribe’s Standard of Living is four times greater than most California families
• Barwest's partners signed Compacts under false pretense; knew they would never make the May 31, 2007 deadline
• BIA's last official public accounting of Pending Gaming Applications
• KQED's Myers understands circumstances of Big Lagoon's failed deadlines and recognizes Tribe's in triple overtime
• Mayor doing damage control for gaming syndicators says casino deal not yet a bust
• Barstow gaming compacts aren't fair, equitable or justifed when other tribes are held back
• Compacts for non-gaming tribes being considered in California present inequities
• Despite gaming agreements, Tribe could pursue commercial development at Big Lagoon

Bay Mills Indians have received $35 million in federal grants since 2000

According to resources available at FedSpending.org, the Bay Mills Indian Community and its various affiliated entities have received more than $35 million in federal grants since FY 2000.

This does not include grants to Bay Mills affiliates that don’t carry the “Bay Mills” name such as the “Great Lakes Composites Institute” which received a $906,000 federal grant to construct an industrial facility for R&D and manufacturing in Chippewa County.

FedSpending.Org

a project of OMB Watch

Bay Mills Federal Grants FY 2000-2006
Fiscal Year	# Grant Recipients	Total $
2000	05	$3,336,215
2001	06	$5,154,818
2002	08	$6,758,603
2003	09	$5,006,805
2004	07	$5,940,064
2005	08	$9,069,913
2006*	04	$49,141
Total	47	$35,315,559
* First Quarter only ** Does not include Composites Institute funds; or other enterprise endeavors

These Bay Mills affiliates received grants:

• Bay Mills Community College
• Bay Mills Conservation Enforcement
• Bay Mills Executive Council
• Bay Mills Housing Authority
• Bay Mills Indian Community
• Bay Mills Indian Community Council
• Bay Mills Indian Community HA
• Bay Mills Indian Location: 02
• Bay Mills Indian Location: 03
• Bay Mills Law Enforcement
• Bay Mills Ojibwe Charter School
• Bay Mills Township Vol. Fire Department
• Michigan Bay Mills Indian Community
• Michigan Bay Mills Indians

http://www.fedspending.org/faads/faads.php?recipient_name=bay+mills&sortby=r&detail=0&datype=T&reptype=r&database=faads&fiscal_year=&submit=GO

Bay Mills plastics venture awarded $906k U.S. Commerce Dept. grant

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
US. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

December 18-21, 2006

EDA announced 19 investments greater than $100,000 during the period December 18-22, 2006, totaling $13,414,396. These investments were part of projects totaling $44,135,859, creating over 2,048 jobs, saving 43 jobs, and generating more than $289.9 million in private investments...

$906,000 for a joint investment with the Bay Mills Indian Community and the Bay Mills Community College, Brimley, Michigan, to construct an industrial facility to house the Great Lakes Composites Institute providing space for research, testing, training and manufacturing in the plastics technology in Chippewa County. This investment is part of a $1,510,000 project that will help create 55 jobs and generate more than $2.8 million in private investments.

http://www.eda.gov/xp/EDAPublic/NewsEvents/NewInvestments.xml

you may also want to review these additional posts or click on the "labels" below for other related posts:

• Bay Mills GTC ignored tribe members request for investigation into structure of plastics venture
• Tribe's chair reported two members were hired for its plastics business
• Tribe to borrow $4 million to fund federal grant requirement, other investments in Plastics venture
  

Bay Mills GTC ignored tribe members request for investigation into structure of plastics venture

from a report on the 3.14.05 Bay Mills Community General Tribal Council (GTC) meeting:

...PLASTICS BUSINESS

[Chairman Jeff] Parker said that Mike Malik is involved in the plastics business because the tribe did not want to expend any tribal funds on the project. He said the initial concept is to have the business in Kinross until the planned creation of an industrial park on tribal properties at I-75 and M-28.

A member of the community had questions about the business — who is the International Composite Institute of Michigan (ICIM) and what is the tribe's relationship with this company? Parker said that ICIM is a non-profit entity comprised of Lake Superior State University and Bay Mills Community College and that BMCC is a charter member.

The concerned member said that ICIM is a non-profit corporation chartered within the state of Michigan and it's chief principal is Tony Andary.

BMCC President Mickey Parish said that ICIM is a non profit testing company and that the college is involved to give students an opportunity to do internships there. He said that LSSU would also like to use the facility for their students to do internships. He added that BMCC has applied for a grant to purchase testing equipment and that LSSU has also applied for a $500,000 two-year grant to fund the staff of the testing institute.

The concerned member said that ICIM'S mailing address, P.O. Box 915, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., currently shares the same address with Integrated Composites Company, a company owned by both Tony Andary and Parker. He said that BMCC shares a partnership with this group to provide free labor that will help advance Parker and Andary's company. He added that Parker had signed a lease to the building to ICIM and the group that licenses this technology is known as Polycom Inc.

Parker said that he and Andary did form a L.L.C. called Integrated Composites, but he sold out his interest in the company. He said they had only one piece of equipment and that has been sold. He admitted that they did lease the building, but said that has since been assigned to someone else. Parker said that he is only listed as a partner of Polycom because he did legal work with Andary and, because of potential problems, he did sell his interest in the business.

A concerned community member said that at the last GTC meeting Chairman Parker had said that he had no interest, whatsoever, in the business. She suggested the GTC put together a committee to investigate the allegations,.

Another member said that it was his understanding that Malik would invest $1.3 million into the company and would own 49 percent of it, while Bay Mills would own 51 percent. He also recommended a committee be put together to investigate some of these allegations and report back to the GTC with their findings. Parker said he would like to have the tribe do the venture on their own, but said that they did it this way so they would not be out any money.

A motion to have the council report back with paperwork at the next GTC meeting on all of the legal issues presented failed to pass.

A motion to have the Executive Council enter into a joint venture for the Plastics Business carried.

http://www.baymills.org/newspaper/2005/03-24/032405-news-gtcmeeting.shtml

you may also want to review these additional posts or click on the "labels" below for other related posts:

• Tribe's chair reported two members were hired for its plastics business
• Bay Mills plastics venture awarded $906k U.S. Commerce Dept. grant
• Tribe to borrow $4 million to fund federal grant requirement, other investments in Plastics venture

Concerns raised about Malik & Bay Mills Tribe's Plastics Business long before $900k federal grant awarded

excerpted from the Bay Mills News, March 24, 2005 article titled “GTC authorizes council extension on Port Huron:”

… PLASTICS BUSINESS

[Bay Mills Tribal Chairman Jeff] Parker said that Mike Malik is involved in the plastics business because the tribe did not want to expend any tribal funds on the project. He said the initial concept is to have the business in Kinross until the planned creation of an industrial park on tribal properties at I-75 and M-28.

A member of the community had questions about the business — who is the International Composite Institute of Michigan (ICIM) and what is the tribe's relationship with this company? Parker said that ICIM is a non-profit entity comprised of Lake Superior State University and Bay Mills Community College and that BMCC is a charter member.

The concerned member said that ICIM is a non-profit corporation chartered within the state of Michigan and it's chief principal is Tony Andary.

BMCC President Mickey Parish said that ICIM is a non profit testing company and that the college is involved to give students an opportunity to do internships there. He said that LSSU would also like to use the facility for their students to do internships. He added that BMCC has applied for a grant to purchase testing equipment and that LSSU has also applied for a $500,000 two-year grant to fund the staff of the testing institute.

The concerned member said that ICIM'S mailing address, P.O. Box 915, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., currently shares the same address with Integrated Composites Company, a company owned by both Tony Andary and Parker. He said that BMCC shares a partnership with this group to provide free labor that will help advance Parker and Andary's company. He added that Parker had signed a lease to the building to ICIM and the group that licenses this technology is known as Polycomp, Inc.

Parker said that he and Andary did form an L.L.C. called Integrated Composites, L.L.C., but he sold out his interest in the company. He said they had only one piece of equipment and that has been sold. He admitted that they did lease the building, but said that has since been assigned to someone else. Parker said that he is only listed as a partner of Polycomp, Inc. because he did legal work with Andary [Andary, Davis & Andary P.C.] and, because of potential problems, he did sell his interest in the business.

A concerned community member said that at the last GTC meeting Chairman Parker had said that he had no interest, whatsoever, in the business. She suggested the GTC put together a committee to investigate the allegations.

Another member said that it was his understanding that Malik would invest $1.3 million into the company and would own 49 percent of it, while Bay Mills would own 51 percent. He also recommended a committee be put together to investigate some of these allegations and report back to the GTC with their findings. Parker said he would like to have the tribe do the venture on their own, but said that they did it this way so they would not be out any money.

A motion to have the council report back with paperwork at the next GTC meeting on all of the legal issues presented failed to pass.

A motion to have the Executive Council enter into a joint venture for the Plastics Business carried.

You may want to review these previous posts:

The Verifiable Truth: Bay Mills & Malik get into Plastics; Senator Stabenow announces they'll get $900,000 federal jumpstart

The Verifiable Truth: Michigan Senator's re-election realizes $113,000 from Detroit syndicators after she introduces plans for their Port Huron Indian Casino

The Verifiable Truth: UPDATE: More Money (post election) to Sen. Stabenow brings total to $117,200 from Malik & the Ilitch Family

UPDATE: More money (post election) to Sen. Stabenow brings total to $117,200 from Malik & the Ilitch Family

Late ’06 post-election political contributions of another $4,200 from Michael J. Malik, Sr., ($117, 200 in total from Malik and the Ilitch Family) flowed to Stabenow the week before she announced $906,000 grant to a Bay Mills Indians enterprise in which Malik owns a 49% stake.

Federal Election Commission (FEC) reports:

MALIK, MICHAEL J SR DETROIT, MI 48201 SELF-EMPLOYED/DEVELOPER STABENOW, DEBBIE VIA STABENOW FOR US SENATE 12/15/2006 $2,100.00 27020054054 12/15/2006 $2,100.00 27020054050

Previous posts have acknowledged that Michael J. Malik, Sr. and the Ilitch Family contributed $113,000 to Senator Debbie Stabenow’s (D-MI) re-election efforts. The money started flowing to Stabenow after she introduced a bill in 2002 that would by Act of Congress authorize the Bay Mills Indian Community to build an “off-reservation” casino in Port Huron, MI; 350 miles away from the Reservation. Malik and Ilitch have been bankrolling the Tribe’s efforts for nearly a decade, maybe more.

And we’ve also posted news that Stabenow had announced in mid-December a $900,000+ grant was headed to the Bay Mills Indian Community for a business enterprise involving the research and manufacturing of plastics (a venture in which Michael Malik reportedly owns 49%).

Now that post-election 2006 campaign finance reports have been logged, FEC records indicate that Malik contributed two more checks of $2,100 each after Election Day (both logged on 12/15/06) to Stabenow’s re-election committee. Those additional contributions came less than a week before Stabenow announced the $900,000+ Bay Mills grant; Malik’s two contributions both at the maximum allowable under federal election law totaled $4,200.

Not a bad investment for Malik, even if the casino deal never come through, considering he owns 49% of the plastics venture; Malik’s “share” of the Federal Grant is $443,940.

And with the addition of Malik’s late contributions, the grand total of contributions from Malik & the Ilitch Family for Stabenow’s re-election increases to $117,200.

U.S. Department of Commerce

Economic Development Administration

SUMMARY OF EDA INVESTMENTS December 18-21, 2006 EDA announced 19 investments greater than $100,000 during the period December 18-22, 2006, totaling $13,414,396. These investments were part of projects totaling $44,135,859, creating over 2,048 jobs, saving 43 jobs, and generating more than $289.9 million in private investments.

$906,000 for a joint investment with the Bay Mills Indian Community and the Bay Mills Community College, Brimley, Michigan, to construct an industrial facility to house the Great Lakes Composites Institute providing space for research, testing, training and manufacturing in the plastics technology in Chippewa County. This investment is part of a $1,510,000 project that will help create 55 jobs and generate more than $2.8 million in private investments.

You may want to review these previous posts:

The Verifiable Truth: Bay Mills & Malik get into Plastics; Senator Stabenow announces they'll get $900,000 federal jumpstart

The Verifiable Truth: Michigan Senator's re-election realizes $113,000 from Detroit syndicators after she introduces plans for their Port Huron Indian Casino

Bay Mills & Malik get into Plastics; Senator Stabenow announces they'll get $900,000 federal jumpstart

12.20.06
Blogger fnemecek @ Great Lakes Politics informs:

$900,000 Coming to Chippewa County

U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Carl Levin (D-MI) today announced that the Bay Mills Indian Community and Community College will receive $906,000 to construct a PLASTICS technology research, testing, manufacturing and training center. The funds were awarded through the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce.“This investment is great news for the economy of Northern Michigan,” insists Ms. Stabenow. “These funds will create good paying jobs in Chippewa County and help bolster economic development throughout the community.”

12.02.04
The PLASTICS venture was introduced at a Bay Mills General Tribal Council meeting in November 2004 as reported in the Bay Mills News:

...The council discussed the possibility of funding a joint-venture into a plastics business located in Kinross. Parker said it has the potential to be more profitable than the casino, and the wages in the manufacturing field are better than those associated in the service industry at the casino. The tribe would have to purchase a license to get into plastics manufacturing, but does not have the cost of the license as of yet. The tribe would supply the labor, training, and day-to-day operations, as well as minority status to the business, Parker said. A motion to approve joint-venture funding was approved unanimously...

Parker said the council will schedule a General Tribal Council (GTC) meeting to discuss the Charlotte Beach and Port Huron issue.

03.24.05
As subsequently reported in a Bay Mills News article reporting on a recent General Tribal Council meeting:

PLASTICS BUSINESS

...Parker [Jeff Parker, Bay Mills Chairman]said that Mike Malik is involved in the PLASTICS BUSINESS because the tribe did not want to expend any tribal funds on the project. He said the initial concept is to have the business in Kinross until the planned creation of an industrial park on tribal properties at I-75 and M-28.

..Another member said that it was his understanding that Malik would invest $1.3 million into the company and would own 49 percent of it, while Bay Mills would own 51 percent. He also recommended a committee be put together to investigate some of these allegations and report back to the GTC with their findings. Parker said he would like to have the tribe do the venture on their own, but said that they did it this way so they would not be out any money.

According to the watchdog group, Center for Responsive Politics at opensecrets.org, Michael Malik and his casino syndication partners contributed more than $113,000 to Senator Stabenow's 2006 re-election campaign prior to the Senator's announcement of the near $1 million grant to finance the startup of the PLASTICS business.


You may also want to review these posts:
The Verifiable Truth: Michigan Senator's re-election realizes $113,000 from Detroit syndicators after she introduces plans for their Port Huron Indian Casino
Candy Land: Calling for More Candy
The Verifiable Truth: Ilitch Family, Associate increased political contributions 2000%
The Verifiable Truth: Six bills in Congress, over six years & political gifts in the six figures: That's what Ilitch Family has invested in Port Huron Casino deal