$360M Kenosha casino sparks DEI hiring debate amid job promises

Menominee Tribe’s $360M Kenosha casino faces DEI hiring backlash from local critics

The Kenosha Common Council has sold 60 acres of city-owned land to the Menominee Tribe for $15 million. The tribe plans to build a $360 million casino resort on this site, pending federal approval. However, a local think tank opposes the project due to hiring mandates for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

The Menominee Indian Tribe, along with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, envisions a casino resort featuring 1,500 slot machines, 50 tables, a sportsbook, a 150-room hotel, and various amenities. This project promises over 1,000 jobs once fully operational.

The tribe claims historical ties to the region, giving it the right to operate Indian gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). However, the MacIver Institute argues that the DEI hiring quota is discriminatory and doubts the promise of local job creation for Kenosha residents. The think tank believes that the BIA should reject the application to protect taxpayers, local workers, and the integrity of the process.

An Inter-Governmental Agreement between Kenosha County and the Menominee Tribe mandates a goal of 25% minority employment and 15% minority business enterprise contracts, with an additional 10% for women- or Native American-owned enterprises. The Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is currently reviewing the casino project's Environmental Assessment, which has been delayed by the federal government shutdown.

The Menominee Tribe's casino project in Kenosha faces opposition from a local think tank due to DEI hiring mandates. Despite this, the tribe remains committed to the project, which promises significant employment opportunities. The BIA's review of the Environmental Assessment continues, with a final decision pending.