A message from Chief Ben:
Halito, hello. I want to take this opportunity to share exciting news about a venture that we are about to undertake.
The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians will enter into a partnership with the Cherokee and Seminole tribes on a luxury hotel in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Although this is not an investment here on our Tribal lands, it is an opportunity for us, along with the other tribes, to diversify our business porfolio. This is yet another step in Choctaw self-determination. With this capital investment, our goal is to generate revenue to benefit the Tribe as a whole. As our Tribe grows, so should our business interests.
The name of the project will be DreamCatcher Hotel. It will be located in the heart of the Smoky Mountains, a tourist destination that has flourished even amidst the Covid 19 pandemic. As we move past the trials of the past year, we feel this is an ideal approach in diversifying our business interests and expanding our economy.
The 200-room hotel is scheduled to begin construction this fall and open in 2023.
Additional details of the project will be released in the coming days, but I can tell you this will be an investment in which we can all have pride.
This decision has not been taken lightly. Much thought and effort has gone into formulating this partnership and plan, and we are very pleased to be able to share this great news with you today.
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Receives Grant for Greenhouse Gas Reduction Measures
CHOCTAW, Mississippi -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Region 4 Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle recently visited the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians to join Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben for a press event to highlight the award of a $7.7 million Climate...
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Makes $1 Billion Annual Impact on State
A recently completed economic impact analysis shows the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (MBCI) has an almost $1 billion annual impact on the state's economy. "This study demonstrates the significant role our Tribe plays in the economic health of Mississippi. We...
Advertisement for Bids for the Construction of the Tribe’s Workforce Training Center
SECTION 00 00 15 ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Notice is hereby given that sealed hard copy bids or electronic bids will be received for the project named below until 2:00 PM on Wednesday, July 31. Bids may be submitted directly to the location listed below or...
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Brings New Life to Carthage Industrial Buildings
CARTHAGE, Miss. – Following extensive updates and repairs, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (MBCI) are breathing new life into their 120,000 square feet of industrial space in Leake County. The three industrial buildings, each about 40,000 square feet, were...
Choctaw Employment Advantage Offers Discounts to Businesses Partnering with the MBCI
CHOCTAW, Miss. – Choctaw Employment Advantage, a new incentive program provided by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, offers rental discounts to commercial tenants leasing Tribal buildings. Businesses that lease space on Choctaw Tribal lands are eligible for...
Choctaw Economic Development Website Wins International Economic Development Award
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the largest nonprofit professional association for professional economic developers in the world, has selected the recipients of its 2022 Excellence Awards. Recognized each year during the IEDC...
Mississippi Choctaws Receive Federal Grant to Develop Workforce Training Center
CHOCTAW, Miss. -- U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $5.8 million grant to the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians for the construction of the Advanced Workforce Training...
Tribe Receives Grant Award for Broadband Connectivity
CHOCTAW, Miss. – (August 19, 2022) – The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians has received an $8.43 million Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) grant award from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to fund the Tribe’s broadband...
Fast Start Class Begins August 15, 2022
The fourth Fast Start entrepreneurial class, hosted by the Choctaw Office of Economic Development, will begin August 15, 2022. Venture Incubator brings this class to the Tribe, and it provides six weeks of training for small business owners and those thinking of...
John Hendrix
Director of Economic Development
601.650.1607
[email protected]
Office of Economic Development
375 Industrial Road | STE 2
Choctaw, MS 39350