Over 25 Sallisaw residents and leaders took a tour of the developing casino Wednesday morning and heard more from Cherokee Nation officials and the tribe's chief about the impact the casino will have on the city during a press conference.
David Stewart, Cherokee Nation Enterprises Inc. (CNE) chief executive officer (CEO) and a 1973 graduate of Sallisaw High School, briefed the group on how the casino will be set up and led the tour of the work in progress.
Stewart said the casino, which will be jointly-managed with the Cherokee Casino in Roland, will be open 24 hours a day seven days a week. The 20,000-square-foot casino will have 400 electronic games, as well as blackjack and poker card tables, an upscale grill, and a stage for bands to perform on the weekends. There will also be a bar area where beer will be served.
The casino, which is located near the Interstate 40-U.S. Highway 59 interchange, will employ about 100, most of whom are local residents and have already been hired. The pay range varies for personnel, averaging about $9 an hour, with full benefits and a matching 6 percent 401K.
"We want to be a contributor to the local economy," Stewart said.
Stewart said when he first became the CEO of CNE in 2002, there were 750 employees. Since then, CNE has grown and now has over 3,000 employees. He said 70 percent of CNE's employees are Native American, with 60 percent of those Cherokee. He noted CNE does give hiring preference to Cherokees and Native Americans.
The casino may open as early as June 15, but is expected to definitely be open by the first of July.
Stewart pointed out that there is room for expansion. He explained that CNE builds in phases, and once the Sallisaw casino operations get going, they will evaluate the needs.
"We don't have one facility we haven't expanded," Stewart said, noting that Roland is getting ready to go through an expansion, adding a restaurant and entertainment.
When questioned about the possible traffic problems on Ruth Street caused from the casino and the high school located nearby, Stewart said they are not going to let the casino disrupt anything.
Stewart noted CNE is community oriented and works closely with city governments to be a good partner.
