By OAN Intern Nalani Lopez

Up on the Pepsi Deck at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs congratulated the successful partnership of tribal gaming between the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and the State of Arizona at the annual Salt River Shares 2024 event on November 30. The event recognizes the SRPMIC’s grants to various groups in the state through its gaming revenue.

The 2024 grant awardees in attendance and SRPMIC leadership surrounded Hobbs as she spoke highly of the Community’s contributions.

“We are fortunate here in Arizona to have the unique opportunity to collaborate through the tribal gaming industry,” said Hobbs. “Together we have made significant investments in so many critical services, from education and wildlife conservation to healthcare and tourism.”

For over 20 years, the State of Arizona and its 22 federally recognized tribes have regulated tribal gaming revenue through the Arizona Tribal-State Gaming Compact. Within this agreement, tribes with casinos contribute 12% of their gaming revenue back to the state, cities and nonprofit organizations in the form of grants.

The SRPMIC has been a leader in this program, and in this 2024 calendar year it will award grants to more than 70 nonprofits and local governments.

The Community’s committee carefully selects the organizations and nonprofits they contribute to. Some of these organizations include St. Mary’s Food Bank, A New Leaf and Dignity Health. The Community hopes the funds will improve healthcare, education, native land preservation and local economies within the state.

Hobbs continued to thank the Community for its contributions while also mentioning how the gaming compact has directly benefited Arizonans.

“The impact of tribal gaming also trickles down to our workforce, with over 20,000 jobs created by the industry since 2004. That is real income for real people who are now able to provide for their families because of tribal gaming,” she said.

Hobbs thanked the Community for its contributions to the well-being of the state and its commitment to creating a better Arizona for everybody.

As she closed, SRPMIC President Martin Harvier thanked Hobbs for the partnership and gifted her a hand-painted gourd doll created by the Young River People’s Council.

Hobbs said, “Together, we will continue to ensure that everyone benefits from tribal gaming. I’m looking forward to our continued partnership through this program and many more to come. Congratulations, and thank you so much.”