Point Place Casino and Maple Leaf Markets fuel a major increase in expenditures in Central New York
Oneida Indian Nation Homelands (January 24, 2019) – Oneida Indian Nation today announced that in 2018, its operations increased their total investments in vendors and capital projects by more than $67 million. That represented a 22 percent increase from 2017 – and does not include an additional $60 million in Nation payments under the settlement agreement to New York State and surrounding counties.
The increase was driven by the opening of the new 65,000-square-foot Point Place Casino in Bridgeport. It was also fueled by the opening of several Maple Leaf Markets, which offer a variety of locally sourced products. The Nation also continued its investments in Turning Stone Resort Casino, the Yellow Brick Road Casino, and its SāvOn Stores.
“2018 perfectly illustrated how the Oneida Indian Nation’s business model is based on constant reinvestment right here in Central New York,” said Oneida Indian Nation Representative and Turning Stone Enterprises CEO Ray Halbritter. “Our revenues do not go to distant shareholders – they are invested right here in this community. We also do not rest on our laurels – we instead are always working to fortify and expand our enterprises in ways that strengthen the foundation of the local economy. We are proud that these new investments support thousands of jobs throughout the region and we are confident that they position our region to be a leader in the tourism economy.”
“The investment the Oneida Indian Nation has made in Oneida County is second-to-none, and our valued partnership has been a major driver of the economic development of our community,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. “The financial impact the Nation’s enterprises have on Oneida County is far-reaching and will propel us to even greater heights in the future. We also continue to reap the benefits of the historic 2013 settlement agreement, which last year alone, provided Oneida County with more than $16 million in gaming revenue and has allowed for no increase to our tax levy for six years in a row.”
“Madison County certainly understands the capital investments made by the Oneida Indian Nation spin into jobs. Jobs that mean paychecks for employees whom also spend their dollars locally, in housing, vehicles and other durable goods,” said Madison County Chairman John Becker. “We congratulate the Oneida Indian Nation for their successes and look forward to a long and prosperous partnership.”
In all, the Oneida Indian Nation spent $207 million on vendors in New York – a more than 50 percent increase over 2017. That includes $99 million in Oneida, Madison and Onondaga counties, an increase of more than $30 million from 2017.
The Nation now contracts with more than 1,700 vendors in New York. These include everything from food producers, to IT firms to construction related companies.
In 2018, the Nation also paid more than $157 million to 4,750 employees – an increase from 2017.
Also in 2018, the Oneida Indian Nation launched an Office of Economic Development, which kicked-off with a successful “Doing Business with the Oneida Indian Nation” conference at Turning Stone Resort Casino. The half-day event drew hundreds of local businesses and representatives from across the area interested in building economic development partnerships with the Nation. Several presentations by Turning Stone Enterprises staff provided the attendees insight into the procurement process, becoming a vendor of the Oneida Indian Nation, sponsorship opportunities and possibilities for new business development. Plans for a similar event in 2019 are already underway and will be announced soon.
To download media approved photos, please click here.
About the Oneida Indian Nation
The Oneida Indian Nation is a federally recognized Indian nation in Central New York. A founding member of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (also known as the Six Nations or Iroquois Confederacy), the Oneida Indian Nation sided with the Americans in the Revolutionary War and was thanked by Congress and President George Washington for its loyalty and assistance. Today, the Oneida Indian Nation consists of about 1,000 enrolled Members, most of them living in Central New York. The Nation’s enterprises, which employ more than 4,750 people, include Turning Stone Resort Casino, Yellow Brick Road Casino, Point Place Casino, Maple Leaf Markets, SāvOn Convenience stores, RV Park and three marinas. Proceeds from these enterprises are used to rebuild the Nation’s economic base and provide essential services, including housing, health care, and education incentives and programs, to its Members.
