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.

Choctaw Teacher Selected as Mississippi Coding Academies Facilitator

Mar 22, 2021

CHOCTAW, Miss. -- Shonda R. Wesley is from the Pearl River Community but currently is living in Edinburg, MS. Ms. Wesley’s parents are Deborah Tubby, Stepdad Sandy Tubby, and the late Kenneth Wesley. She has three brothers and three sisters and many nieces and nephew....

Mississippi Choctaws’ Economic Development Office Offers Virtual Tours to Prospective Partners

Mar 4, 2021

CHOCTAW, Mississippi -- As COVID-19 continues to hinder the in-person site selection process, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians' Office of Economic Development is responding by offering virtual tours online of its available sites and buildings. In its recently...

Choctaw Opportunity Zones Could Boom In 2021

Jan 26, 2021

CHOCTAW, Miss. -- The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians’ two Opportunity Zone designations are expected to garner attention in the coming months as a result of a projected big boost from the new administration in Washington. The MBCI was able to secure Opportunity...

MBCI Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for Mississippi Coding Academies TechShare Program

Jan 20, 2021

CHOCTAW, MS -- On January 19, 2021, the Mississippi Coding Academies (MCA) and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Office of Economic Development had a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the MCA TechShare program that will be taught at Choctaw. Choctaw is one...

Mississippi Choctaws’ Educational Efforts Boosted by New Markets Tax Credit

Jan 13, 2021

CHOCTAW, Mississippi -- The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians recently closed a New Markets Tax Credit transaction related to its two new early childhood education centers and an elementary school expansion -- resulting in a $2.3 million benefit to the Tribe. “We...

Mississippi Choctaws Installing Technology in Commercial Buildings to Neutralize Covid-19 Virus

Dec 16, 2020

CHOCTAW, Miss. -- The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians is updating all of its commercial and industrial buildings with needlepoint bipolar ionization, a technology that will greatly enhance the air quality and provide neutralization against Covid-19. "In an...

Tribal Employee Becomes NCCER Certified as Instructor in HVAC

Dec 2, 2020

CHOCTAW, Miss. — Christopher Dearing lives in Philadelphia, MS with his family and currently is an employee of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. For the past three years, he has worked as an HVAC/R Technician for Choctaw Tribal Maintenance. He has over 10 years...

Mississippi Choctaws Receive 2.5 GHz Spectrum License to Assist in Broadband Access for Tribe

Nov 16, 2020

CHOCTAW, Miss. -- The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians recently was awarded a 2.5 GHz license by the Federal Communications Commission, which will be used to provide wireless broadband service in portions of the Bogue Chitto and Conehatta communities. This license...

Tribal Employee Becomes NCCER Certified as Instructor in Electrical and HVAC

Nov 11, 2020

CHOCTAW, Miss. -- Brian Robinson currently works for the tribe as the Utility Engineer/Tribal Energy Manager and lives in Carthage, MS with his family. He has been an entrepreneur, having owned and operated Robinson Engineering, and has been the tribe's General...