ANGOLA, Ind. (WLKI)- Steuben County officials and local economic development leaders will host a public question-and-answer forum on the proposed resort-style casino development ahead of the November election.
The forum is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Steuben County Event Center on Crooked Lake.
The Steuben County Board of Commissioners, Steuben County Tourism Bureau and Steuben County Economic Development Corporation are hosting the event. Organizers say it is intended to provide public information and allow residents to ask questions directly to local elected officials and economic leaders.
On Nov. 3, voters in Steuben, Allen and DeKalb counties will decide whether inland casino gambling should be permitted.
The referendum was authorized through state legislation. If more than one county approves the measure, casino operators would submit competitive bids to the Indiana Gaming Commission, which would award one license for northeast Indiana.
Supporters of a Steuben County location point to the proposed Freedom Bay Resort and its location near the Michigan and Ohio borders. They argue the development could attract out-of-state visitors and revenue.
Allen County is also seeking the project, with supporters there pointing to Fort Wayne's larger population and existing infrastructure.
The public forum comes less than a month before voters decide the binding referendum.