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Benefiting the Local Economy

The Mille Lacs Band's businesses, which are managed by the Band’s Corporate Commission, contribute to the local economy, support tourism in the region, and help spur economic development.

Business growth

• Neighboring local businesses have created many new jobs to accommodate increased visitor traffic attracted by Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley and spending by casino employees. Since the casinos opened in 1991 and 1992, jobs have increased by 35% in Mille Lacs County and 72% in Pine County.
• Nearly 70% of Grand Casinos’ purchases come from Minnesota vendors, around half of which are located outside of the Twin Cities metro area.
• Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley have spent millions of dollars in capital construction since they opened.
• The Onamia Hospital has expanded, in part because Grand Casino Mille Lacs provides health insurance benefits to area residents who may not have had insurance before.
• Local utilities have increased their power output to accommodate the casinos’ electrical needs. Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley paid approximately $5.6 million for utilities during 2010.

Taxes

• The Mille Lacs Band, the Corporate Commission, and Grand Casino Mille Lacs paid $454,389 in property taxes to Mille Lacs County in 2010.
• The Mille Lacs Band, the Corporate Commission, and Grand Casino Hinckley paid $1,118,884 in property taxes to Pine County in 2010.
• The Mille Lacs Band and the Corporate Commission paid $102,706 in property taxes to Aitkin County in 2010.
• Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley employees are subject to the same taxes paid by other Minnesotans, including federal and state income taxes; Social Security taxes; unemployment insurance, real estate, and sales taxes; liquor and cigarette taxes; and gas and motor vehicle taxes. The only exceptions are American Indians who live and work on the reservation – they do not pay state income taxes. In addition, people who live on trust lands do not pay real estate taxes, because they lease rather than own the property.
• Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley have paid $86.2 million in federal and state taxes based on wages paid to employees since 1991.