Tribal assets can mean business
July 17, 2006

The Oklahoman Editorial

In Ardmore, a plant that will assemble an MG sports car may wind up being built on land owned by the Chickasaw Nation. About 120 miles to the north, as the crow flies, there is talk of building an oil refinery on Sac & Fox land in Cushing.

These aren't tribal companies we're talking about, but private businesses that recognize the benefits that can result from partnering with tribes. Oklahoma, home to 39 federally recognized tribes, should continue to trumpet these assets as the state approaches the start of its second century.

The Cushing proposal is very much in the preliminary stages. The Sac & Fox Nation and the subsidiary of a Tulsa company are studying the feasibility of building a refinery -- a costly and time-consuming proposition. The tribe's chief points out that the complicated process would be simplified a bit by working through the tribe, which would save time and money.

The Chickasaws plan to buy land near the Ardmore Airpark, where the MG plant is scheduled for construction in the near future. If the land is placed into trust, as expected, it would be exempt from property taxes -- a significant incentive for the Chinese company that owns the plant. The tribe's ability and willingness to buy the land, as well as pay for infrastructure upgrades, played a part in helping Oklahoma land the plant.

Phil Busey, head of an Oklahoma City business development firm that focuses on tribal government opportunities, wrote in The Oklahoman in January about the benefits of companies building on Indian land.

"Oklahoma needs new businesses. Businesses in Oklahoma need to look at expansion into areas that are considered 'Indian country'" Busey wrote. "This is a huge advantage for state economic development. It's time for Oklahoma to at least get the message to businesses and corporations that they have an alternative to heading overseas. They can source right here in Indian country."