Oklahoma City — OKLAHOMA CITY — The Chickasaw Nation’s business acumen has contributed more than $2.4 billion to Oklahoma’s economy, an Oklahoma City University economic impact study reveals.



“The results are nothing short of impressive and show the Chickasaw Nation’s economic activities and enterprises strongly bolster the state economy,” said Kyle Dean, Ph.D, associate director and research economist at the Oklahoma City University Meinders School of Business.



“In fact, the analysis indicates the Chickasaw Nation’s business enterprises generate $1.39 billion in annual revenue and support more than 16,000 direct and indirect tribal and non-tribal jobs. Many (of these jobs are located) in rural Oklahoma where steady quality jobs are not as plentiful,” he added.



Through its diversified enterprises, the study underscores the Chickasaw Nation has become an integral part of Oklahoma’s overall economy and is now among the top employers and purchasers of goods and services in the state.



In addition to $1.39 billion generated from tribal business activities that include manufacturing, banking, tourism, energy, health care, hospitality and entertainment, the study found the Chickasaw Nation’s contribution to the stability of the state’s economy is multifaceted.

Contributions include $318 million in direct payroll contributions and $119 million to Oklahoma entities for the purchase of goods and services. The Chickasaw Nation’s governmental expenditures amounted to $129 million in 2011.

These expenditures funded programs and services as diverse as increased medical care access, educational advancements, social services and economic development opportunities for citizens of the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma, the study points out.

The Chickasaw Nation employs over 10,000 people and supports 16,000 jobs in Oklahoma, producing $525 million in payroll revenues annually, the OCU study states.

“The reinvesting of revenues earned by the Chickasaw Nation is creating jobs and business opportunities across multiple sectors of Oklahoma’s economy as well as insulating the state from downturns in the national economy,” Dean noted.

“The economic impact analysis shows the Chickasaw Nation — as well as the other Oklahoma tribal governments — has a significant and beneficial impact on Oklahoma’s economy. As made evident by the results in the study, the Chickasaw Nation’s business ventures are creating positive economic activity and producing new jobs,” said Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce Dave Lopez.

“Long-term thinking guides our various business enterprises along with our desire to have a positive social and economic impact throughout the 13 counties comprising the Chickasaw Nation in south-central Oklahoma, as well as across all of Oklahoma,” Bill Anoatubby, governor of the Chickasaw Nation, affirmed when addressing the study’s conclusions.

“Our economic activities are part of the economic fabric of the state and the revenues generated through our various business enterprises allow us to invest in programs and services for the benefit of Chickasaw Nation and Oklahoma citizens — such as our $150 million medical center in Ada as well as new health facilities in Ardmore and Tishomingo.

“The tribe’s hospital and clinics average more than 350,000 patient visits each year,” Gov. Anoatubby said.

“We are focused on growing our existing businesses and investing in new ventures with strong revenue and growth potential,” explained Bill Lance, chief executive officer of the Chickasaw Nation’s Division of Commerce. Lance’s division oversees more than 60 businesses owned and operated by the Chickasaw Nation.

“To that end, we are committed to operating our diversified business enterprises in a responsible and sustainable manner to make sure we continue to strengthen our state’s economy through sound investments and job creation,” Lance added.

The economic impact analysis was conducted by the Steven C. Agee Economic Research and Policy Institute at OCU.

The report, Estimating the Oklahoma Economic Impact of the Chickasaw Nation, was funded in part by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and several Native American tribal governments to quantify the impact of tribal activities on the Oklahoma economy.