As a result, the tribes are now among the largest employers of tribal members and nonmembers in the two counties. Roughly 3,400 people are employed by the tribes – more than those employed by Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, for example – and more growth is on the way.
Some examples:
• The Squaxin Island, perhaps best known for the Little Creek Casino resort located between Olympian and Shelton, will open Salish Cliffs this summer. It’s an 18-hole golf course that will become part of the resort.
• The Chehalis tribe has started expansion work on its Eagles Landing Hotel at Lucky Eagle Casino (located south of Olympia and Tumwater in Rochester), with plans to add 90 rooms.
Clearly tribes play a significant role in the area’s economy and are fueling growth and job creation in the community. For example, besides the expansion of a hotel near their casino, the Chehalis have opened two more convenience stores, a construction company, an RV park, a storage warehouse and Great Wolf Lodge, the 400-room resort, waterpark and convention center that the tribe jointly operates with Great Wolf Resorts of Madison, Wisconsin. The tribe employs about 1,400 in the county, and more than 90 percent are nontribal.
Other tribes contributing to growth through casino operations: Red Wind casino for the Nisqually and Little Creek for the Squaxin. The state Gambling Commission, which provides data on gambling receipts, shows that estimated tribal casino net receipts statewide grew to $1.74 billion in 2010 from $1.57 billion in 2009.
Support for the community through tribal businesses does not stop at just job creation. The tribes also contribute to local services and charities. The Chehalis, for example, gives 2 percent of its table gambling receipts to support public services, such as 911 emergency services, and 1 percent of slot machine revenue to charities.
