(ANGOLA) - A group of Steuben County residents and business owners has formed a political action committee to support allowing a casino resort in the county.
The Steuben Where Fun Wins Political Action Committee, or SWFW PAC, announced its formation Thursday. Chuck Nedele is serving as chair, along with Mike Votaw and Kevin Stoy.
The group supports the casino proposal expected to go before Steuben County voters in November. The ballot question will ask, "Shall inland casino gambling be permitted in Steuben County."
The PAC says it plans to raise money to promote what it sees as the potential benefits of a casino resort, including year-round tourism, infrastructure and utility improvements, support for schools and nonprofit organizations, jobs, retail development and additional county revenue.
"This is really an 'entertainment venue' that goes beyond just a casino," Votaw said. "The positive economic impacts for our community in attracting jobs, retail growth, and other service company opportunities far exceed any negatives."
The organization filed its statement of organization with the Steuben County Clerk earlier this week.
The PAC is privately funded and has no official government affiliation. However, it is using the "Steuben Where Fun Wins" name already used by the Steuben County Economic Development Corporation, Tourism Bureau and County Commissioners as they have distributed information about the casino proposal.
"We are here to say that we trust this process," Nedele said. "It's so difficult to compete for commerce with other communities and to come up with ways to keep our young people here. A community either grows or declines, it cannot remain the same, and we agree with this vision for our future growth."
The group also says it wants to counter concerns about the potential effects of casino development.
Nedele said conversations with local police officers familiar with other casino communities did not indicate to him that a casino would create additional crime problems locally.
Stoy addressed concerns about development near Steuben County's lakes, saying, "Protecting our lakes requires us to prevent many types of industrial development, but a casino would have a near-zero impact on the lakes' environment."
Nedele is a principal and co-owner of Croxton and Roe insurance and has been involved with a number of local organizations, including Trine University, the Steuben County Humane Society, Cameron Memorial Community Hospital, the Steuben County Community Foundation and the YMCA.
Votaw is president of Larry's Lock and Safe and Lakeland Electronics. He previously served on the Angola Area Chamber of Commerce board and currently serves on the Turning Point board of directors.
Stoy is an owner of Stoy Farms and works full-time in agriculture. He has served with the Pleasant Lake Lions Club and on the boards of the Steuben County Community Foundation and Ashley/Hudson Community Foundation.
"This vote is critical to the future success of our community," Votaw said.
The PAC says its campaign will encourage voters to support the casino ballot question in November.