Tourism Directly Impacting Community Organizations

Akwesasne, NY - There is a cascade of giving during the holiday season and the Room Occupancy Fee from gaming tourism is delivering "new to us" transportation and an unprecedented contribution towards vocational education. The Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort began collecting the $10 fee in September of 2013 and the Comfort Inn in the spring of 2014. Collectively, the hotel fees average $68,000 per month in revenue. The Room Occupancy Fee Ordinance is intended to provide support for education, recreation and tourism programs for community members.

Direct program recipients include the Akwesasne Boys and Girls Club and the Early Childhood Development Program. ABGC received a check for $38,000 to purchase a van to safely transport our youth to extracurricular activities and after-school programs. This spring, Head Start received $22,000. "We are grateful to have the funding to be able to provide safe transportation for our youngest students. This money allowed us to make up for a funding shortfall in our purchase of three buses," shared Stephanie Cook, Executive Director of Education at the Tribe.

Tribal Council was presented with an opportunity to help establish a welding program at Salmon River Central School. A check in the amount of $20,000 was presented to help develop a two-year vocational training in collaboration with BOCES in Malone. The funding will provide $4,000 in personal protection equipment, welding jackets, helmets, gloves, chipping hammers and wire brushes. Two thousand dollars will be spent on five oxygen acetylene torch outfits and $14,000 will provide for metal, welding electrode and wire supplies. The two-year program will commence in the fall of 2015 with a mission to connect local ironworkers to the next generation of experts.

The buses formerly used to transport our youngest students at Head Start have been gifted to two non-profit organizations. "It is our distinct honor to present the American Legion and the Mohawk Indian Housing Corporation with the buses being donated by the Tribe," remarked Chief Paul Thompson. "We are thankful to be able to provide transportation for our Veterans, our elders and disabled community members."

Future plans for the Room Occupancy Fee revenues include ongoing maintenance and anticipated expenses for Generations Field, a recreational park including fields, a lacrosse box and facilities in development for our athletes and families. Tribal members who are guests of the hotels are exempt from the fee. The tourism brought to Akwesasne through the gaming industry is a direct reflection on the excellent service and hospitality provided by our employees throughout the region.