The Squaxin Island Tribe of Washington has launched its own cigarette brand in hopes of creating jobs and generating revenue.

The tribe's brand will cost about half the price of similar-quality tobacco products. Since the cigarettes are manufactured entirely on the reservation, the tribe doesn't have to charge a tax equal to the state's as required by a tribal-state compact.

The tribe was among the first to sign a compact. But officials say the tribe saw revenues drop by nearly half in the year after the compact was signed.

Later this year, the tribe will open a 25,000- square-foot manufacturing factory that will employ up to 30 people.

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Tribe is ready to roll -- its own (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 4/19)