Tohono O'odham Nation to build off-reservation casino in phases


Artist's rendering of the proposed West Valley Resort. Image from Tohono O'odham Nation

The Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona will be building its off-reservation casino in phases over the next three years.

The first phase of the West Valley Resort will feature a gaming facility with five restaurants, meeting and multi-purpose space. It's expected to be complete in 16 months so the casino could be open by December 2015 or January 2016.

"The Tohono O'odham Nation and our gaming enterprise are proud to move forward together with our friends and neighbors in the West Valley to bring greater prosperity to all our communities," Chairman Ned Norris Jr. said in a press release. "Today's groundbreaking demonstrates the nation's commitment to keeping its word and delivering the major economic development project we proposed more than five years ago."

The tribe says it will create 3,000 jobs through the project. A job fair is being planned but a date hasn't been announced.

Get the Story:
Leaders from tribe, Glendale break ground on $400 million casino resort (Cronkite News 8/28)
Tohono O'odham Nation Breaks Ground at Site of West Valley Resort and Casino (The Phoenix New-Times 8/28)
Tribe breaks ground for West Valley casino (The Glendale Daily News-Sun 8/28)
Tohono O'odham Nation Breaks Ground on Glendale Area Casino (KJZZ 8/28)
City prepares for windfall from Glendale casino agreement (The Peoria Times 8/29)

An Opinion:
Alex Finter: We must strike the right balance for Indian gaming in the Valley (The Arizona Republic 8/29)

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Tohono O'odham Nation breaks ground for off-reservation casino (8/28)

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