Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Launches Extensive Water and Sewer Project to Support Growth and Enhance Community Infrastructure

The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, in partnership with the City of Dowagiac and Pokagon Township, has officially commenced construction on an extensive sewer and water project designed to modernize infrastructure, support growth, protect the environment, and enhance safety in Pokagon Township and Dowagiac. This initiative marks a significant step forward in addressing the Band’s current and future needs.

The primary goals of the project include:

• Providing sewer service to the Pokagon government campus.
• Extending water and sewer service to the Dowagiac Four Winds Casino.
• Offering opportunities for some Pokagon Township residents to connect to water and sewer lines.
• Installing fire hydrants along M51 to improve fire suppression capabilities and community safety.

The project has been in the planning stages since mid-2023, with design, permitting, contractor selection, and signed agreements finalized throughout 2024 and the first half of 2025. Construction officially began in July 2025 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

The project spans key areas in Pokagon Township and Dowagiac, including M51 from Dowagiac to Four Winds Casino, Edwards Street, and Sink Road leading to the government campus. Please refer to the map for further details.

The project is being funded 100% by the Band and constructed to serve adjacent properties. The City of Dowagiac will own and operate the public portions of the system once complete. Property owners interested in connecting to the proposed water and or sewer should contact Tony Miller at mmiller@dowagiac.org or via phone at (269) 783-2512 to determine the availability and cost for connection and service.

Please direct construction-related questions to Matt Davis at mdavis@gowhightman.com or (269) 449 6817. Other questions may be sent to Communications.Staff@PokagonBand-nsn.gov. We appreciate your patience as there will be disruption to traffic and disturbance to yards and drives.

About The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians of Michigan and Indiana

The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi’s sovereignty was reaffirmed under legislation signed into law by President Clinton in September of 1994. The Pokagon Band is dedicated to providing community development initiatives such as housing, education, family services, medical care, and cultural preservation for its more than 6,300 citizens. The Pokagon Band’s ten-county service area includes four counties in Southwestern Michigan and six in Northern Indiana.  Its main administrative offices are located in Dowagiac, Mich., with a satellite office in South Bend, Ind. In 2007, it opened Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo, Mich., followed by Four Winds Hartford in 2011, Four Winds Dowagiac in 2013 and Four Winds South Bend in January 2018. The Pokagon Band operates a variety of non-gaming businesses through its investment enterprises, Mno-Bmadsen and the Pokagon Development Authority. More information is available at www.pokagonband-nsn.gov, www.fourwindscasino.com and www.mno-bmadsen.com.