4
June 17, 1996
SMOKE SIGNALS
We all know there's a casino in Grand Ronde; there's programs for
housing, education, business, health, and natural resources. Sure,
the Tribe is helping its own members, but...
W
lat does the
Grand
Tribe give to the community
onde
By Tracy Dugan
' rovvth in Grand Rondc and traffic along Highway 18 has prompted
some concern about future development in Grand Ronde and
how our community will eventually be structured. As the 2 1 st
Century approaches, the Tribe will play a significant role in re
shaping the economy in Polk and Yamhill counties. Many com
munity members whose roots and livelihood span many genera
tions in this region of Oregon are uncertain about how the Tribe's
development is going to affect their way of life. While these changes have positively
impacted the Tribe and generated opportunity and revenue for the benefit of its members,
they have also resulted in the Tribe spending significant amounts of its resources to im
prove the community as a whole.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
For a long time, the people of the Grand Ronde community have expressed a need for
better police protection and services in the area. The Tribe collaborated with the Polk
County Sheriffs Department to address these concerns, and in 1994, provided $45,000 to
Polk County to cover the cost of increased patrolling. In 1995, a formal agreement was
signed by both parties to provide permanent deputies on patrol in Grand Ronde. As part of
the agreement, the Tribe has provided a Sheriffs substation in Grand Ronde, pays for all its
utilities and upkeep, and has contributed to the salaries of the officers. This year, there are
two deputies assigned to the area, effectively patrolling and canvassing local neighbor
hoods and business, as well as answering reports and complaints.
All residents of Grand Rondc are able to take advantage of these policing services.
INFRASTRUCTURE
In 1995 the Tribe received a $724,000 grant from the Economic Development Adminis
tration (EDA) and a $270,000 Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant for the pur
pose of building a water tank in Grand Ronde. For many years there has been a moratorium
on water hook-ups, effectively keeping potential businesses and private citizens from buy
ing property and moving to Grand Rondc. The water tank, located on Highway 1 8 directly
across from the Casino, provides water for Casino use, but also provides water to the rest of
the Grand Rondc area. In addition to the $994,000 in grants, the Tribe contributed $230,000
of its own money, and Spirit Mountain Development contributed $50,000. The Tribe may
have to spend up to $300,000 more to complete the project. The tank holds 500,000 gal
lons of water. Although the Tribe owns the tank and the land it is located on, it is being
leased to the Water District for free.
Additionally, the Tribe has worked with the Grand Ronde Sanitary District for improve
ments to the sewer system. More recently, the Tribe has purchased, in advance, 35 hook
ups from the county to assist with financial problems of the district. The Tribe has contrib
uted $5,000 of tribal dollars to the district, as well as $2 1,000 in grants to help improve the
system, and will work closely with Polk County to identify ways to upgrade the system.
The ongoing tribal developments during the past five years provided opportunities for many
small local businesses to start-up or expand operations.
EffPLOYHEKT
After the Casino opened for business, the Tribe conducted an Economic Impact Analy
sis, to determine the impacts the Tribe's employment and expenditures would have on Polk
DDDO-ODQO
Tribal Other Total
Law Enforcement $195,000 $0 $195,000
Infrastructure
Water Tank" $280,000 $994,000 $1 ,274,000
Sewer Improvements $5,000 $21,000 $26,000
Highway 18 Improvements $2 Million $0 $2 Million
Health Clinic $3.5 Million $0 $3.5 Million
Projected cost
and Yamhill counties. The employment impacts have been significant. The tribal organi
zation has grown from 31 employees in 1988, to 136 employees in 1995. The Casino has
800 employees and will add another 200 when expansion is complete in late June. In 1 995,
tribal employment was estimated to account for 2 of total employment in Polk and Yam
hill counties, and for 2.4 of total personal income in the counties. These impacts will
increase, since the Casino did not open until October of 1 995. It is estimated that the Tribe
will account for 3-4 of total employment in Polk and Yamhill counties and for 4-5 of
total personal income in the counties on an annual basis. The direct salaries and wages
from employees of the Tribe and expenditures made by the Tribe in the counties also re
sulted in additional jobs. For 1995, the direct salaries, wages, and expenditures are esti
mated to have resulted in 330 additional jobs in Polk and Yamhill counties.
Additionally, the average wage of tribal jobs exceeds the local average. The average
annual salary of a Casino employee is $25,000, while the average annual wage in the Polk
Yamhill economy is $17,639.
The added development in Grand Ronde has provided employment to a region of Or
egon that has been economically unstable due to the reduction in logging and other forest
jobs. Moreover, these new jobs help to improve the quality of life of local residents by
providing above average salaries combined with comprehensive health programs for em
ployees. NATURAL RESOURCES
The Natural Resources Division of the Tribe is responsible for maintaining and effi
ciently using the resources on tribal lands. The Tribe owns a significant amount of timber
land in the Grand Ronde area, which is usually harvested by local timber companies.
"The Tribe's timber sales are usually bought locally, and that provides jobs for mill workers,
loggers, and haulers," said Cliff Adams, Natural Resources Division Manager. "This is
true for timber sales as well as salvage sales."
The division also employs a summer Youth Crew, open to young people in the commu
nity who are interested in working doing various outdoor jobs. Cliff said they work with
the Oregon Youth Conservation Corps (OYCC) to implement this program for local young