Economists at Oklahoma City University recently released a report detailing the Cherokee Nation’s economic impact in northeast Oklahoma. The results were what we expected and already knew for the most part—business is booming in the Cherokee Nation. What we didn’t expect was to what extent our economic footprint had grown—by more than 50 percent over the last four years.

The report was prepared by Dr. Russell Evans of the Meinders School of Business at Oklahoma City University. It showed in 2014 Cherokee Nation had an impact to the tune of $1.55 billion on our 14-county jurisdiction. That doesn’t even include spillover effects on the rest of the state. The same economists previously prepared economic impact reports for the Cherokee Nation. They showed in 2012 that number was $1.3 billion, compared to just over $1 billion in 2010. Clearly, the Cherokee Nation is growing by leaps and bounds.

But what does a $1.55 billion impact really mean to the Cherokee people? Perhaps most importantly, it means jobs to our economy. Cherokee Nation was either directly or indirectly responsible for 15,610 jobs in northeast Oklahoma last year. Folks, that’s an impact that can’t be understated.

When we build roads, bridges, waterlines or homes, we’re employing people. The Cherokee Nation is making it possible for the good people responsible for those projects to provide for their families. We make it possible for them to have good insurance and opportunities to send their kids to school and enjoy an improved quality of life.