WHITE EARTH NATION – White Earth Nation has released an executive summary for its proposed casino and convention center near Moorhead.
Clay County Administrator Steve Larson said the tribe bought 280.64 acres of land near the Interstate 94 exit for State Highway 336 in December 2024. Based on the deed tax collected, he said it appears the purchase price was $3,900,896.90.
The study done by consulting company Klas Robins Q.E.D. which said on its website it has “unique expertise and unsurpassed experience in Indian gaming and economic development on tribal lands.”
The project is expected to cost $176.8 million with the casino having 950 gaming machines and 10 tabletop games. There would be a 200-room hotel with a 15,000 square foot ballroom, meeting spaces, dining options, bars and a gift shop. The parking lot would have 1,000 spaces and a 50-pad RV park.
Klas Robins said the project would require 391 full-time equivalent construction jobs with wages at $39 an hour. There would be 597 full-time jobs with the average earning $55,400 a year. There would also be 102 part-time jobs. The firm estimates the casino would have 1.1 million visitors a year with 927,500 coming from outside of Clay County.
The study estimates a $175.6 million economic impact for Clay County and $244.6 for Minnesota.
Numbers show a need of $1.4 million increase for public safety and other government services.
Some have raised concerns about the potential impacts to a large aquifer in the area which area cities get water from.
White Earth Chairman Michael Fairbanks said the tribe aims to protect water because they know how important it is.
