Department of Interior, which refused to sign off on an amended revenue-sharing agreement between the state and the tribes. Tribal leaders had originally hoped to open the jointly owned and operated satellite casino before MGM opened its doors last August, but their plans were stymied by the U.S. 'The fact is Tribal Winds is a shovel-ready project that will create much-needed jobs and revenues for our state as soon as we are approved to break ground.' 'We understand there are skeptics out there,' Butler told members of the General Assembly's Public Safety and Security Committee. MMCT Venture, the development company formed by the two tribes, is now awaiting the final OK from the federal government, or the passage of proposed state legislation that would eliminate the need for federal authorization. The site for the $300 million East Windsor project along I-91 has been purchased and cleared most state and local approvals have been obtained and a project labor agreement has been reached with construction unions. Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Chairman Rodney Butler and Mohegan Tribal Chairman Kevin Brown said the tribes have spent about $14 million so far on the project. The project has been billed as a way to help the tribes' existing Connecticut casinos compete with MGM Resorts' new casino in Springfield, Massachusetts. The leaders of Connecticut's two federally recognized tribes tried to assure state lawmakers Tuesday that they remain committed to opening their Tribal Winds casino near the Massachusetts state line, despite lengthy delays in obtaining final federal approval. Facebook Email The MGM Springfield casino's front facade on Main Street in Springfield (Charles Krupa/AP)

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