SMSC announces $20 Million loan to Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) has announced a loan of up to $20 million for debt consolidation and tribal infrastructure projects to the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara (MHA) Nation, formerly known as the Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota.

This 2011 agreement refinances a previous 2009 loan of $30 million while providing additional funding for new projects.

Planned Infrastructure and Use of Funds The loan will fund critical community needs, including:

Healthcare: A building to house the Indian Health Service Clinic and clinic employee housing.
Infrastructure: Road construction, sewer and water projects, and other essential utilities.
Employment: Working capital to retain and create tribal government jobs and support operations for two years.
Housing: New housing projects to address the needs of tribal members.
Debt Management: Decreasing debt service, improving the tribal operating budget, and retiring casino revenue-secured debt.

About the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara (MHA) Nation The MHA Nation is located on the Fort Berthold Reservation along the Missouri River in North Dakota.

Land & Population: The reservation spans 988,000 acres. Of the 12,000 enrolled members, approximately one-third live on the reservation.
Key Communities: New Town and Parshall serve as the primary population hubs.
Economy: The tribe operates the 4 Bears Casino and Lodge in New Town, which serves as a major job source. The Four Bears Bridge, opened in 2005, provides vital access across the Missouri River.

2011 SMSC Grant Recipients In the 2011 fiscal year, the SMSC has already announced more than $14 million in grants. This includes $1 million grants to each of the following tribes:

Spirit Lake Tribe (North Dakota)
Crow Tribe of Indians (Montana)
Rosebud Sioux Tribe (South Dakota)
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe (South Dakota)
Lower Brule Sioux Tribe (South Dakota)
Yankton Sioux Tribe (South Dakota)
Omaha Tribe (Nebraska)
Bois Forte Band of Chippewa Indians (Minnesota)
White Earth Nation (Minnesota)
Northern Cheyenne Tribe (Montana) - awarded $312,000 grant.

About the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) The SMSC is a federally recognized Indian Tribe in Minnesota that owns and operates enterprises such as Mystic Lake Casino Hotel and Little Six Casino. The Tribe utilizes its financial resources to fund internal infrastructure and essential services for its members in education, health, and welfare.

Rooted in a cultural tradition of assisting those in need, the SMSC has a significant charitable giving program. Over the past 15 years, the SMSC has donated more than $215.7 million to organizations and tribes and has provided more than $396 million in loans to other tribes for economic development.