Grand Falls Casino Construction Could Bring Money To Sioux Falls Companies

by Jesse Batson
July 29, 2010


The casino being built in Lyon County will now be called the Grand Falls Casino and Resort. Casino officials say the name represents the region and that they want the casino to benefit all of the surrounding communities.

KDLT's Jesse Batson tells us, an important vote scheduled for tomorrow will decide which South Dakota and Minnesota companies will benefit from the construction process.

In April, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission came to visit the casino site in Lyon County. They voted in favor of building the Grand Falls casino there. Now they're voting again, but this time they're voting on whether South Dakota and Minnesota companies can be involved in the construction process.

"All of our contracts that are over $100,000 or a 3-year-contract -- those must be approved contracts by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, for any casino or resort in the state of Iowa," said Sharon Haselhoff, spokeswoman for Kehl Management.

Sands Drywall, in Sioux Falls, was given the largest contract in South Dakota. They already have the paperwork and tomorrow, after the gaming commission votes, they'll find out if it's official. After a question and answer period, the commission will vote on 39 contracts.

"All of those are subject their approval. A number of  those are from the Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Minnesota area -- in front of the Gaming Commission tomorrow," said Haselhoff.

Grand Falls officials tell us, if the commission approves them, $7.5 million would be going into Sioux Falls and South Dakota businesses.

Iowa's Racing and Gaming Commission will vote on more contracts in August.