Snoqualmie Tribe activity yielded estimated taxes of $33.4 million in the Snoqualmie Valley in 2015
The Snoqualmie Tribe has published its first economic impact study which analyzes the Tribe’s effect on the Snoqualmie Valley economy. The study was performed by economist Jonathan Taylor, President of Taylor Policy Group, and Research Affiliate at the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development at the Kennedy School of Government.
Download the Economic Impact Report (Adobe PDF)
“The Snoqualmie people have been here since time immemorial,” says Snoqualmie Tribe Vice Chair Jolene Williams. “We are excited to share this study which shows the ways in which the Tribe and its enterprises are not only helping us provide for our Tribal Members, but enriching the Snoqualmie Valley community as well.”
Produced over an eight-month period, the study captures a brief history of the Snoqualmie Tribe and its economic journey. Despite the federal government proposing a reservation to the Snoqualmie people in 1937, the land was never transferred. Without a reservation, Snoqualmie lost their recognition in 1953 and in 1999, after 46 years of persistent petitioning, the federal government re-recognized the Tribe on the basis of demonstrated community continuity from historic times to the present. Today, the Tribe owns and operates various tribal businesses and has been committed to investing in its culture, people, and environs.
Revenue generated by Tribal enterprises supports a variety of Tribal government programs which support Snoqualmie Tribal Members. “Without [support] from the Tribal programs and employment opportunities, I’m not really sure where I would be,” says Snoqualmie Tribal Member and employee Clayton Burley.
The study found that the Snoqualmie Tribal government and its enterprises are a net contributor to the Valley’s gross regional product as the Tribe recruits dollars from the Seattle and Bellevue area, while hiring locally. “The Tribe’s operations do not exist in economic isolation,” the report states. “The Tribe’s payroll and vendor outlays have a large economic and fiscal impact on the area.” When customers play and have dinner at Snoqualmie Casino, their expenditures quickly register in the regional economy.
Additional highlights from “Economic Impact of the Snoqualmie Tribe” include:
- Snoqualmie Tribal activity yielded an estimated $33.4 million in taxes in the Snoqualmie Valley in 2015.
- The Snoqualmie Tribe employed a total 1,760 workers in 2015, making it one of the major employers in the Snoqualmie Valley.
- Ninety-five percent of the Snoqualmie Casino’s employees are non-Indian.
- 207 of the Tribe’s employees live in North Bend, while 96 live in Snoqualmie.
- From 2010 to 2015 the Tribe’s charitable contributions to local nonprofits totaled $5.3 million, with nearly 25% of its contributions being given to organization in the Snoqualmie Valley.
The Snoqualmie Indian Tribe is a federally recognized tribe in the Puget Sound region of Washington State. Known as the People of the Moon, Snoqualmie tribal members were signatories to the Treaty of Point Elliot in 1855. The Tribe owns and operates the Snoqualmie Casino and the Crescent Market at Snoqualmie, set to open this June.