Self-Sufficiency

The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon are committed to working for self-sufficiency for the Tribe and its members, so they will be less dependent on government programs. Spirit Mountain Casino is a key tool in that effort. Profits from Casino operations are used for badly needed social, economic and cultural programs. The Tribe’s are working to diversify into non-gaming business enterprises as part of its long-term financial goals.

Recent achievements toward self-sufficiency include:
The opening, in August 2000, of a 38-unit, $3.7 million rental housing development for tribal Elders. The project was built with $1.2 million in Tribal money and two grants from the federal U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The two-bedroom units are wheelchair accessible, served by free shuttles and are within walking distance of the Tribal health and community centers.

• The creation, beginning in 1998, of the 37-lot Grand Meadows manufactured housing subdivision located in Grand Ronde, near the Tribal offices. Tribal members—many of them first-time home buyers—are purchasing their own homes. The goal is to provide affordable housing near the Reservation. The project is managed by the Grand Ronde Tribal Housing Authority.
• The Tribal Housing Authority also is working on a 32-unit rental development for low-income households with children.
• The opening in 1998 of the Tribal Governance Center, providing meeting space for the Tribal Council and Tribal Court, as well as for Tribal departments.
• The opening in 1997 of the health center, providing access to medical care for the greater Grand Ronde community for Tribal members and non-members.
• The expansion of the Community Center, providing meeting space and expansion of the Elders’ mealsite and committee activities.
• Improvements for the Tribal cemetery.
• Stream and wildlife enhancements throughout the nearly 10,000-acre reservation, opening up new miles of streams as salmon spawning grounds.
• Development of a cultural site, with facilities for cultural activities.
• Adoption of the Corporate Dividend, so all Tribal members can share in Casino profits.

Social Programs
Other achievements in social programs include:

• Legal Assistance-Tribal Member Legal Services Plan
• Training to address employment needs of Tribal members:
  • Pre-employment training for jobs directly related to the Casino.
  • Training for jobs directly related to the Tribe.
  • Training to acquire skills in areas such as management.
  • Lower division college courses held on-site.
  • Courses leading to a master’s degree in Tribal Administration offered on-site through Portland State University.
• Basic education for young Tribal members, including Preschool and Head Start programs for children, before and after school programs for grade schoolers, and enrichment programs for older students.
• Health care coverage for Elders
  • Full coverage for Tribal elders, including dental, vision and medical insurance.
• Health plan coverage for all Tribal members.
• Pensions for Elders.
• Education scholarships, granted competitively and based on need.
• Early childhood development programs.
• Continued support of Nanitch Sahallie, offering treatment for chemically dependent youth and their families based on Native American values and traditions.

Economic Programs
Buffeted by the events that followed contact with white European and American settlers, the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon have long been mired in a cycle of poverty and related problems. Revenue from Spirit Mountain Casino is allowing the Tribe to address many of the economic, social and cultural needs of its members. The Tribe has identified the following needs:

• Reduce unemployment for Tribal members and non-Indians in the economically depressed West Valley area.
  • Prior to the Casino opening, Tribal unemployment was 17 percent, which is 3.5 times higher than the statewide average.
  • The Casino currently provides over 1600 jobs.
• Increase median household income.
  • Tribal annual income is $5,000 less than the statewide average.
  • Thirty-nine percent (39%) of Tribal households within the six county service area have a median annual income of $12,500 or less.
• Provide job skills and job experience to Tribal members.
• Pursue diversified economic development to ensure long-term self-sufficiency.

Diversification
In support of its efforts to make the Tribe’s self-sufficient and eliminate the need for government assistance, the Tribal Council created Spirit Mountain Development Corporation to explore and develop diversified business ventures. Spirit Mountain Development Corporation has two primary goals:

• Generate profitable business ventures which create a revenue stream to support the Tribes’ programs and services.
• Create quality employment opportunities for tribal members.

Spirit Mountain Casino is the development corporation’s first business venture. Revenue from the Casino is helping to develop non-gaming Tribal enterprises. The diversification efforts are focused in these areas:

1. Real estate investment and development.
   • Spirit Mountain Development Corp. has invested in two transit oriented developments in Portland:  the Gregory loft project in Portland's Pearl District along the new street-car line, and Russellville Commons, a multi-family rental complex on the Portland east side light rail line.
   • SMDC developed two small retail malls in Salem and a third in Redmond, Ore.
   • SMDC developed a 48-lot subdivision in North Albany.
2. Manufacturing/Industrial Development.
   • Grand Ronde Industries and Spirit Mountain Logistics, located in the Tangent Industrial Park south of Albany, provides contract inventory management and manufacturing support services.
3. Environmental management.
   • Spirit Mountain Environmental Services provides environmental management and remediation services. Construction management.
   • Gridco provides construction management services and won a competitive bid to build the additions to Spirit Mountain Casino.