Trump's cuts to a key small business program are gutting Native American businesses and the rural towns that rely on them | Fortune

"Near Thackerville, Oklahoma, a town on the Texas border with fewer than 500 residents, what started as a small roadside bingo hall has spent the past 20 years growing into one of the planet's largest gambling destinations. The WinStar World Casino, fully owned and operated by the Chickasaw Nation, is now the cornerstone of Oklahoma's $10 billion gaming industry, one of the state's biggest employers and economic engines."

"Oklahoma has some 130 casinos owned by Native American nations, but the economic impact of tribal governments spreads far beyond gaming. While WinStar and related entertainment ventures remain the largest single source of revenue for the Chickasaw Nation, the tribe owns more than 100 businesses ranging from banks to manufacturers."

"In 2023, Oklahoma's 38 federally recognized tribes owned businesses that generated more than $23 billion in economic activity for the state, supporting 140,000 jobs and nearly $8 billion in wages and benefits, according to an impact report published last year by researchers at Oklahoma City University and commissioned by tribal groups."

"Particularly in rural areas, where opportunities for jobs and businesses can be scarce, tribal enterprises can act as a primary engine of economic growth. And because businesses are owned by tribal governments, large shares of revenue are often funnelled directly into public services, making tribal businesses a critical funding source for local infrastructure and healthcare programs."

WinStar World Casino near Thackerville, Oklahoma, expanded over two decades from a roadside bingo hall into one of the world’s largest gambling destinations. The casino is fully owned and operated by the Chickasaw Nation and anchors Oklahoma’s $10 billion gaming industry, supporting jobs and broader economic activity. Oklahoma has about 130 Native American–owned casinos, and tribal economic impact extends beyond gaming through ownership of more than 100 businesses, including banks and manufacturers. In 2023, 38 federally recognized tribes generated over $23 billion in economic activity, supporting 140,000 jobs and nearly $8 billion in wages and benefits. Tribally owned enterprises operate nationwide across sectors and can be the main economic driver in remote rural communities, funding public services and local infrastructure.

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