Citizen Potawatomi Nation has $506 million economic impact

Report finds Oklahoma tribes have 10.8 billion impact to the state

The Citizen Potawatomi Nation has a $506 million economic impact in the State of Oklahoma. This includes $64 million in wages and benefits which directly supports nearly 2,000 jobs and purchases contributing to a $370 million impact on the local economy.

“Our growth and development is good for us, our tribal citizens and the state of Oklahoma,” said John Barrett, Chairman, Citizen Potawatomi Nation. “The services we provide ease the burden on the state, provide jobs in our communities and create economic opportunities.”

A recent study conducted by Oklahoma City University’s Steven C. Agee Economic and Policy Institute found that Oklahoma tribes have a combined $10.8 billion impact to the state.

“Tribes’ economic activities positively impact the entire state of Oklahoma and serve as a vital source of income and opportunity to residents in the rural areas of the state,” said Kyle Dean, Ph.D, associate director and research economist at the Oklahoma City University Meinders School of Business.

Citizen Potawatomi Nation is among the 38 federally recognized tribes within Oklahoma whose jurisdictions cover three-fourths of the state and whose tribal citizens make up 13 percent of the Oklahoma population.

According to the report, Oklahoma tribal activity accounts for 87,174 full-time jobs, $2.5 billion in state income and $10.8 billion in state production of goods and services. Many of the goods and services produced by tribes are based in rural areas, providing jobs and services for rural Oklahomans and tribal citizens.

Oklahoma’s Secretary of Commerce, Dave Lopez, said, “Oklahoma’s tribes provide economic opportunities and growth to many Oklahomans — particularly in rural areas of the state. The study also notes the value of essential education, health, social and economic development services the tribes provide directly to their respective citizens.”

In 2011, Citizen Potawatomi Nation clinics had more than 62,000 patient visits, filled more than 1530,000 prescriptions, served more than 14,000 meals to the elderly, served nearly 3,000 families through Indian Child Welfare and provided 3,100 scholarships.