Choctaw Nation made $2.5 billion impact on state in 2019

DURANT, Okla. (KTEN) --  Let this number sink in: $2,519,532,303.

That's how much the Choctaw Nation says its activity contributed to the Sooner State's economy in the year 2019. The figure covers jobs, education, health, housing and other segments.

"We want to have the greatest impact -- positive impact -- on the State of Oklahoma that we can," said Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton.

The Nation provides around 18,000 jobs, making it the state's 12th largest employer.

"The opportunity the tribe provides in this otherwise impoverished part of the state that the natural forces would be causing it to shrink, but because of the Choctaw Nation, it's sustaining and actually even growing," said Dr. Kyle Dean, who analyzed the tribe's economic impact.

Not only does this tribal cash infusion "green up" state coffers, but it helps keep the Choctaw Nation alive.

"Without those dollars, we're not able to sustain our language, we're not able to provide a cultural center that we will opening up this year; those are the things that are important to us as the Nation," said Chief Batton.

"For the people in southeastern Oklahoma, they've got this great partner in the Choctaw Nation that is essentially a permanent partner and a long-term economic driver," Dean said.

He noted that the tribe's economic impact has been on a steady trajectory for the last decade, and the magnitude now versus 20 years ago is significant

The economic impact of the Choctaw Nation in 2019 was $2 million more than the previous year.

"We expect to grow, and we want to do that sure to help our tribal members, but again, it's about the greater good of growing our economy and helping our fellow neighbors and friends," Chief Batton said.