The Citizen Potawatomi Nation had a $540 million impact in Oklahoma for 2014. CPN directly supported 2,100 jobs and paid $78.6 million in wages and benefits. CPN indirectly supported thousands more jobs and boosted local economies by making purchases of more than $212 million on goods and services.
Tribal economic impact has grown nearly $500 million since 2002. CPN is the largest employer in Pottawatomie County, having created 70 percent of the new jobs locally for more than a decade.
In addition to wages and purchases, CPN also pays taxes and gives to local charitable organizations. In 2014, CPN made $28.9 million in tax payments and payments in lieu of taxes while contributing more than $2.2 million to local community organizations. Oklahoma schools received $252,000 and CPN awarded $4.1 million in scholarships. The impact of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation doesn’t end with dollars. Tribal programs provide health and human services to many citizens, Native and non-Native alike, in its local community. CPN Health Services provided more than 160,000 physician, dental and wellness center visits and filled 171,000 prescriptions in 2014. More than 20,000 meals were served to elderly and CPN programs helped more than 20,000 families with training, education and nutrition services. These services help to ease the burden on the State of Oklahoma, which saw a $600 million budget shortfall in 2015. CPN recently signed an agreement to provide 911 dispatch for all of Pottawatomie County and fields nearly 30 tribal police, increasing the safety of local communities.
Pottawatomie County Rural Water District 3, operated by CPN, service area includes 60 percent of the county and serves towns and schools throughout rural Oklahoma. Pottawatomie County Rural Water District 3 investments have allowed towns like Dale, Okla. to improve education and safety by updating infrastructure and school districts. CPN Community Development Corporation has also contributed to the impact in the local community. Since 2003, it has made $32.6 million in commercial loans and created or retained 1,154 jobs. CPCDC has also provided $4 million in employee loans and 17,900 hours for financial education and business development assistance.