Here is a round up of business news briefs from around Indian Country.
Real estate
- The Tule River Indian Tribe had approximately 40 acres of land taken into trust by the federal government near Porterville, Calif., where the tribe plans to replace its existing Eagle Mountain Casino with a new casino, hotel and resort project. In a statement, Tule River Chairman Neil Peyron said the move will allow the tribe to focus its limited water resources toward new tribal housing. The tribe first applied to have the Bureau of Indian Affairs take the land into trust in 2016. Tule River Tribe will close the existing Eagle Mountain Casino once the new facility is open. The tribe expects the new casino to create approximately 1,075 jobs, a net increase of 790 positions when factoring in the existing casino closure, and create $103.6 million in direct economic output in surrounding Tulare County, according to a statement.
- The Seminole Tribe of Florida paid $65 million for the 238-unit Alexan Optimist Park apartment complex in Charlotte, N.C., according to a report in the Charlotte Business Journal. The Hollywood, Fla.-based tribe’s other business ventures include the Hard Rock International, which owns, manages or licenses venues in 248 locations spanning 76 countries and owns one of the largest collections of rock music memorabilia in the world.
Gaming
- The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians is nearing a deal to establish a gaming compact with the state of Indiana for its Four Winds Casino location in South Bend, according to a report in Northwest Indiana Times. Signing a compact would allow the tribe to host Class III gaming at the facility, which currently offers Class II bingo style machines. The tribe began the process to establish a compact in August 2019, according to the report. The Pokagon Band currently operates three Class III Four Winds Casinos in southwest Michigan.
- The 25 tribally operated Class III casinos in Arizona collectively contributed more than $31.7 million to the Arizona Benefits Fund for the second quarter of the state’s current 2021 fiscal year, an 8.7 percent increase from the same period last year. Tribal casinos in Arizona contribute between 1 percent and 8 percent of their Class III gross revenues to state and local governments. The Arizona Benefits Fund goes toward instructional improvements and education, trauma and emergency services, Arizona Department of Gaming operations, the state’s Wildlife Conservation Fund, a tourism fund, and problem gambling treatment and prevention. “The Tribal Contributions for the second quarter of FY2021 helps [sic] display the resilience of the Tribal Gaming Industry in Arizona,” department director Ted Vogt said in a statement.
Federal 8(a) contracting
- Saxman One LLC, a Manassas, Va.-based division of the Alaska Native-owned Cape Fox Corp., received a $50.75 million contract award from the Department of Defense for Navy internship and apprenticeship programs, according to a notice from the federal agency. The five-year, sole-source contract is for promoting student internship opportunities such as the Science and Engineering Internship Program, the Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program and Naval Horizons. The project includes developing websites and providing customer service, with a goal toward increasing awareness of the programs. It will also include developing virtual training opportunities. Founded in 2007, Saxman One is a professional services organization that provides logistical support, training solutions, conference and event management, and intelligence support, according to its website. The company is a subsidiary of Ketchikan, Alaska-based Cape Fox Corp., which is owned by nearly 400 Tlingit Alaska Native shareholders from the village of Saxman. Its subsidiaries specialize in tourism, information technology, professional services, health care services, marketing, training, and logistics.
