Engine of prosperity

Every community has problems, some more than others. But when one or a few of the 562 recognized Indian tribes has problems, the op-ed columns and talk shows are full of generalizations about "the Indians."

Bad news sells. "If it bleeds, it leads," and this is as true on the right as it is on the left. So it's no surprise that tribal success stories are generally ignored. Particularly when they run counter to cherished myths.

The Tulalip Tribes are a case in point. They have become an engine of prosperity:

TULALIP -- Less than a decade ago, the area now called Quil Ceda Village was a drab stretch of I-5 north of Everett lined with grass and some scrub trees. ... Today, the area is home to a Wal-Mart superstore, a Home Depot and Seattle Premium Outlets, an open-air mall with more than 500,000 square feet of retail space. A number of other businesses have long-term leases on the Tulalip Indian Reservation. -- The Tulalips' rapid rise took a lot more than luck, By Mike Benbow, Herald Writer, Sunday, August 24, 2008

It started with a casino
When the Tulalips had issues, it was noted here and a big deal made of it. Yet the Tribes have turned around and it started with gaming: an Indian casino. Some tribal leaders view casinos as the answer to everything, but others wisely view them as a short-term source of funds for needed services right now plus seed money to plant back into economic development for the future:

After years of waiting, the Tulalips have moved quickly to develop a business center, especially one not dependent on gambling. (Rep. John McCoy) doesn't trust it as a reliable source of revenue over the long term.-- The Tulalips' rapid rise took a lot more than luck, By Mike Benbow, Herald Writer, Sunday, August 24, 2008

Their efforts have paid off, both for the Tribes and for the local communities:

Since 2001, the Tulalips have quickly turned the grass and trees into a major business center called Quil Ceda Village. In 2007, businesses there reported $303 million in taxable sales, producing $25.8 million in sales taxes for state and local governments, according to the state Department of Revenue. ... It's also become an economic juggernaut, sparking expansion outside the reservation in an area where most residents previously had to drive to Everett or Seattle to find work.-- The Tulalips' rapid rise took a lot more than luck, By Mike Benbow, Herald Writer, Sunday, August 24, 2008

Cheering success
Did you notice something: $25.8 million in sales taxes. You may recall that there has been discussion on this blog about how the Tulalips want to keep 85% of the sales tax revenues to help pay for infrastructure and improvements. So far they have been denied. Some will jeer at them and say they ought not to have any of it; I disagree. But my question is how can you jeer their failure but not cheer their success and what they have done and are doing for the community?

Caldie Rogers, the (Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce) president... mentioned a project to support Naval Station Everett in which chamber members are urged to hire Navy spouses. That's important because the spouses often find it hard to get good jobs because employers expect they will soon leave for a new duty station. The tribes quickly chose to give the spouses of active members of the military three preference points when they apply for a job, Rogers said.-- The Tulalips' rapid rise took a lot more than luck, By Mike Benbow, Herald Writer, Sunday, August 24, 2008

That's in addition to the thousands of jobs they provide and spin-off business they produce. No project is perfect, but successes like these should be praised and encouraged.

Posted by RodVanMechelen at August 26, 2008 07:16 PM | Email This