Two big casino hotel announcements within a few days is welcome news. Both projects have been in the works for a while.

In Hancock County, Silver Slipper plans to start building its $17.5 million, 140-room hotel shortly. Construction will take a year from groundbreaking, owner Full House Resorts said. Nearest hotels now are in the Waveland/Bay St. Louis and Slidell.

Island View in Gulfport will invest $50 million in the old Grand Casino hotel south of U.S. 90. The 16-story property has been sitting there vacant ever since Katrina blew through. Work will begin in the fall.

The new hotel will add 400 rooms and a convention center when it’s completed in mid-2015. The hotel adjacent to the casino north of 90 has 565 luxury rooms and suites.