"Viewing Indian tribes as a drain on society because of their casinos and smoke shops is short-sighted. Tribes are increasingly diversified and sharing their wealth in ways that save taxpayers money. The Sac and Fox tribe, for example, has funded state highway improvements in its territory. Now the tribe has plans that could help the city of Stroud recover from a devastating tornado.
That storm cloud was in 1999, when Stroud lost 400 jobs and more than $1 million in annual sales tax receipts through the destruction of Tanger Outlet Mall, and the city hasn't found a way to make up for it. The Sac and Fox are buying the former mall property, now just a slab of concrete along the Turner Turnpike, for $1.34 million and studying ways to use the site.
Stroud's potential has been discussed for years, but little's been done about it. At one time the city was even considered as a site for a regional airport that would serve both Tulsa and Oklahoma City.
This isn't likely to happen because of the distance between the state's largest metropolitan areas, yet the Sac and Fox land purchase should give hope to Stroud that its storm cloud has a silver lining."
Get the Story:Stroud's cloud: Tribe buying former outlet mall (The Oklahoman 10/20)
pwpwd Relevant Links:
Sac & Fox Nation - http://www.sacandfoxnation-nsn.gov
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