- Details
- By Chez Oxendine
- Economic Development
A new report commissioned by the Seneca Nation places the tribe's annual economic impact in Western New York at nearly $2 billion, supporting just over 8,000 jobs across 16 counties.
The independent analysis, prepared by Meister Economic Consulting, measured the effects of the nation’s government operations and business enterprises in 2024, expressed in 2025 dollars, according to a press release from the tribe. The report’s findings include $1.9 billion in total economic output, 8,014 direct and supported jobs, $542.7 million in wages, and $365.9 million in taxes and other payments to federal, state, and local governments.
That jobs figure includes indirect jobs. Directly, the Seneca Nation employs 4,623 full‑time and part‑time workers. Casino operations at Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino, and Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino account for about 3,000 of those jobs. That total makes the tribe the 12th largest employer in Western New York, per a statement.
“Our economic reach across our ancestral homelands is wide and growing,” Seneca Nation President J. Conrad Seneca said during a press conference in Buffalo. “The Seneca Nation’s continued presence and leadership in Western New York provides important fuel to the region’s economy. Moreover, we provide for and help sustain the livelihoods of thousands of individuals and families who, like us, call this region home.”
The Seneca Nation operates 34 businesses across multiple industries. In addition to gaming and hospitality, the portfolio includes retail and fuel operations, banking and finance, information technology, telecommunications, healthcare, engineering, energy, federal government contracting, and cultural preservation.
Earlier this year, the tribe acquired the Rochester Knighthawks, a National Lacrosse League franchise, keeping the team in Rochester and adding professional sports to its business operations.
“Today’s study confirms what we already knew: the Seneca Nation creates jobs and drives growth — all without taxpayer dollars or subsidies,” Seneca Nation Councilor Odie Porter said in a statement provided to Tribal Business News. “Our goal is simple—keep building our future for Senecas and for Western New York, free of outside government interference. We’re not outsiders. We don’t need to be lured into investing here. This is our home, and we’re not going anywhere. We’re going to make it better.”
Revenue from the tribe’s enterprises funds a wide range of government services for approximately 8,600 enrolled members. Programs include education, healthcare, housing, public safety, transportation, vocational training, and cultural preservation, as well as services for elders, veterans, and people with disabilities.
“We are here and we are forever committed to this region,” President Seneca said. “The Seneca Nation has helped move the Western New York economy forward in a significant way that few others can match. With each step we take and each investment we continue to make, the benefits we deliver to our people improve and the economic impact we have here in Western New York grows stronger.”
