Economic Impact
From the Chief
It is with great pride that I present Choctaw Nation's economic impact on the State of Oklahoma for 2021.
The Choctaw Nation has a proud and storied history of faith and resilience and has been a driving force in southeastern Oklahoma for more than a century. This past year, the Tribe has focused on revitalizing our culture, growth, and opportunities for our tribal members, as well as the wealth and stability of our Tribe.
With more than 12,000 employees and 20,142 jobs supported in Oklahoma, we strive to better the lives of not just our Chahta people but also all those with whom we interact within Oklahoma, the United States and across the world. Over the past year, we have invested more than $183 million in new projects, including community centers, food distribution centers, wellness centers, health care facilities, housing and Choctaw-owned businesses. We have supported job creation through economic development partnerships with others in the community and expanded social service programs to improve the lives of tribal members.
We are a thriving force in the region that can provide new opportunities, new growth and new prosperity to our families and neighbors. We are proud of our success and the $3.2 billion dollar economic impact our Tribe has made on the state of Oklahoma.We are poised and ready to continue bringing positive change to the Tribe and the entire state of Oklahoma.
In closing we are a vibrant and strong government committed to living out our faith, family and culture. I hope you share in my enthusiasm as we continue to look to the future for our Chahta people.
Yakoke,
Chief Gary Batton
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
Oklahoma Native Impact Study
Oklahoma Tribal Nations
View
From the Economist
Kyle D. Dean, Ph.D.
is an experienced professional economist who provides economic analysis for governments, businesses, tribes, and non-profit leaders.
Dr. Dean began consulting in 2005, and his client list includes some of Oklahoma's most influential businesses and trade associations, such as the Oklahoma Independent Producers Association (OIPA), the Oklahoma Bankers' Association (OBA), the Oklahoma Telephone Association (OTA) and many others.
He is best known for his comprehensive work with Oklahoma tribes, having completed the first ever estimate of the combined economic impacts from Oklahoma tribal activities, along with many other studies for the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association and many of Oklahoma's 38 federally recognized tribes. He recently served as a featured panelist at the international G2E Summit in Las Vegas and is regularly called upon to speak to Native American groups and serve on panels regarding Native American issues.
Dr. Dean received his Ph.D. in Economics from Oklahoma State University. He is a member of the American Economic Association and the National Association of Business Economists. He currently serves as the Associate Director for the Steven C. Agee Economic Research and Policy Institute and as the Director of the Center for Native American and Urban Studies at Oklahoma City University.
