ith the release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Cowlitz Indian Tribe’s Trust Acquisition and Casino Resort Project on May 30, 2008, Southwest Washington is one step closer to realizing a new economic engine in Clark County. Sometime later this year, the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs is expected to issue a decision on the Tribe’s request that approximately 152 acres of land near La Center be taken into trust and proclaimed the Tribe’s reservation, to be used for tribal government offices, elder housing and a cultural center, as well as for gaming and a resort. At full buildout, the project  may feature:

• A casino of up to 134,150 square feet
• Restaurant and retail stores totaling up to 260,225 square feet
• Convention and entertainment facilities of up to 147,500 square feet
• A 250-room hotel
• Tribal government offices, a tribal cultural center, and approximately 16 Tribal elder housing units.
• Parking structures for about 7,250 vehicles and an RV park for 200 recreational vehicles.
• When fully developed, the entire facility will create thousands of jobs.
• Once built, the resort will draw thousands of people over the course of a 24-hour day.