Hit hard by COVID-19 shutdowns, Native American tribes with casinos are taking a closer look at diversifying their portfolios to help keep their sovereign nations economically strong for future generations
FILE — Slot machines at the FireKeepers Casino Hotel, owned and operated by the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, are seen in Battle Creek, Mich., Aug. 5, 2019. The casino shut down in the early months of COVID-19 pandemic, but the financial impact was blunted in part by the tribe's non-gambling businesses, including a firm involved in drone development for the federal government that was deemed"essential." MASHANTUCKET, Conn.
In Michigan, the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, or Gun Lake Tribe, recently announced a 25-year plan to develop hundreds of acres near its casino into a corridor with housing, retail, manufacturing and a new 15-story hotel.
The Mashantucket Pequots' non-gambling entity, Command Holdings, last year made its largest acquisition to date: WWC Global, a Florida-based management consulting firm that predominantly works with federal agencies, including the defense and state departments. WWC announced in December that it had been awarded a $37.5 million contract supporting the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
“You think about the financial crisis in ’08 and now COVID. And so, something’s going to happen again,” Butler said. “We’ve learned from past mistakes, and we want to be ready for it in the future.” Terri Fitzpatrick, a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians in Michigan and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation's chief real estate and global attraction officer, has noted “tremendous growth” in non-gambling-related tribal businesses over the last decade in Michigan. Most tribes within the state now engage in some form of economic development other than casinos.
The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi in Michigan saw its successful casino shut down in the early months of the pandemic. But the financial blow was blunted in part by the tribe's non-gambling businesses, including a firm that's involved in drone development for the federal government and was deemed “essential.”
México Últimas Noticias, México Titulares
Similar News:También puedes leer noticias similares a ésta que hemos recopilado de otras fuentes de noticias.
Prison Deaths Rose Almost 50% When Pandemic Hit, Report ShowsThe death rate surpassed the rate of increases at nursing homes. It was more than twice as high as the increase in the US general population.
Leer más »
Study: The COVID-19 Pandemic Prematurely Aged Teens’ BrainsFor teens, the virus arrived during a crucial window in their brain’s maturation.
Leer más »
WSJ News Exclusive | Lab Leak Most Likely Origin of Covid-19 Pandemic, Energy Department Now SaysThe Energy Department joins the FBI in saying the virus likely spread via a mishap at a Chinese laboratory. Four other agencies, along with a national intelligence panel, still judge that it was likely the result of a natural transmission, and two are undecided.
Leer más »
Woody Harrelson Spreads Anti-Vax Conspiracies During SNL MonologueWoody Harrelson spreads Covid conspiracy theories during SNL monologue: 'The biggest drug cartels in the world get together and buy up all the media and all the politicians and force all the people in the world to stay locked in their homes...'
Leer más »
Millions who rely on Medicaid may be booted from programRoughly 84 million people are covered by the government-sponsored program, which has grown by 20 million people since January 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
Leer más »
Bay Area twins who make up DJ duo OtebNSolrac persevere through pandemicWhen the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to concerts and club events in 2020, artists and musicians had to adapt, including a pair of twin DJs from San Leandro.
Leer más »