Nisqually Tribe Invests $45 Million to Expand Red Wind Casino in Olympia, WA
Courtesy Red Wind Casino - Nisqually Red Wind Casino is named after a red wind, "called La-liad. It blows over the land of the Nisqually Indian people bringing the gentle rains in its path and spreading sunshine over the prairies, meadows, and showering blessings on the people." —Cecilia Svinth Carpenter Nisqually Elder, Historian, and Author (http://redwindcasino.com/about/overnisqually.asp)
Nisqually Tribe Invests $45 Million to Expand Red Wind Casino in Olympia, Washington
The Nisqually Tribal Council has approved a $45 million expansion of its Nisqually Red Wind Casinoincluding 42,700 square feet of new floor space and a new 600-space parking facility.
Construction is expected to begin in November and the new facilities will be open by December 2014. The expanded space will also include a smoke-free casino. Korsmo Construction, which built the Nisqually Tribal Center, will be the general contractor; KMB Design Groups is the architect.
About 70 new jobs will be created as a result of the expansion.
"The Nisqually Tribe has so many projects finally coming off the drawing board and becoming a reality that this is truly the year of fruition," said Cynthia Iyall, chair of the Nisqually Tribal Council.
In addition to building a new tribal center, the tribe has also constructed new convenience/gasoline stores this year, is extending its waste water treatment system, and is building a public safety complex.
"The Nisqually Tribe is investing in the future," Iyall said. "The tribal council wants to provide long-term opportunities for our members and their families – opportunities for good jobs, good health care, good homes, and good education. We especially want to provide quality care for our elders."
Nisqually's investments are not only providing jobs and training opportunities for tribal members, Iyall said, they are also providing economic benefits throughout the region as tribal enterprises buy goods and services locally from private businesses.
The Nisqually Tribe also donates more than $1 million from casino revenue to benefit community charitable and non-profit organizations, and local governments.
The Red Wind Casino is managed by the tribe's Medicine Creek Enterprise Corporation which is chaired by John Simmons.
"We're proud of the casino's success and we welcome the opportunity to keep growing, to keep generating revenue to benefit our members," Simmons said.
The original Red Wind Casino, opened in 1997, has grown to 95,000 square feet of space and features three restaurants, 975 video lottery terminals and a wide assortment of table games.