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Illinois Suburbs Join Forces

ILLINOIS –As reported by the Chicago Business: "Leaders from 18 south suburban municipalities have joined forces behind a plan to use Emerald Casino Inc.'s dormant license for a casino in County Club Hills.

"Crestwood Mayor Chester Stranczek on Friday said he is giving up his pursuit of the license with a coalition of other suburbs to back a casino that would be located on 275 acres near the junction of Interstates 57 and 80 in far south Cook County.

"Joseph Canfora, former president of the Empress Casinos in Joliet and Hammond, Ind., and the Lafayette Gatling family, which operates a chain of South Side funeral homes and owns the proposed casino property site, are heading the newly created Southland Development Group for the Country Club Hills casino. The proposal has the backing of Illinois Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, but includes no participation by a national casino company.

"…Country Club Hills Mayor Dwight Welch said the license would yield the most economic development benefits in the south suburbs, where falling property values and rising poverty levels have put pressure on the finances of school districts and municipalities…"

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