SACRAMENTO—JAN. 23—The U.S. Department of the Interior has published a Federal Register notice approving Wilton Rancheria's Class III Tribal Gaming Compact with the State of California. The compact agreement allows the Tribe to operate a resort and casino in Elk Grove. The notice was published in the Federal Register issue of Jan. 22, 2018. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/01/22/2018-01058/indian-gaming-tribal-state-class-iii-gaming-compacts-taking-effect-in-the-state-of-california. 

"This is another milestone on our journey to self-sufficiency," said Raymond C. Hitchcock, Chairman of the 758-member Tribe. “I want to thank Assemblyman Jim Cooper, Senator Cathleen Galgiani, Governor Brown, and the CA legislature for their hard work and leadership unanimously approving and ratifying our tribal compact."

The compact, which Gov. Jerry Brown and Chairman Hitchcock signed in July, was ratified unanimously by the State Senate and Assembly in September. 

On Dec 7, Gov. Brown met with Chairman Hitchcock to present the fully executed and ratified compact. Also present were Vice Chairman Cammeron Hodson, and the Tribal Council: Jesus Tarango, Elizabeth Singh, Tonya Caldwell, David Andrews, Mark Andrews, Annette Williams and Joseph Rangel.

The compact provides for strong regulatory oversight and labor and licensing, public health and safety, environmental protection, and community investment provisions found in other recent compacts with the state.

“Under Chairman Hitchcock’s leadership, the Tribe has come a long way,” said Assemblymember Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove), who authored AB 1606. “I can’t think of anybody more deserving of their right to determine their own destiny than the members of the Wilton Rancheria.”

Hitchcock said that under a “best case scenario,” the 758-member Tribe would break ground by next summer and complete construction in 18 to 24 months.

The resort and casino project will create thousands of local jobs and help Wilton Rancheria realize its goal of self-sufficiency. The Tribe has agreed to invest $186 million in the first 20 years of the project with the City of Elk Grove and Sacramento County to support police, schools, roads and other services. The project will also enable the Tribe to invest in medical care, housing and educational opportunities for its members.

Wilton Rancheria’s tribal status was terminated in 1958, and the Tribe was finally restored, without land, in 2009, after a long-fought campaign by tribal elders. On Feb.10, 2017, the U.S. Department of the Interior placed 35.92 acres of land in Elk Grove into federal trust as restored land for the Tribe.

Wilton Rancheria is the only federally recognized tribe in Sacramento County. In November 2011, the Tribe adopted its modern Constitution, and since that time, tribal leadership has worked to improve the lives of its members and positively serve the community from its offices in Elk Grove.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Bob Magnuson--Townsend Calkin Tapio Public Affairs; (o) 916.551.2525; (c) 949.290.9382; bob@tctpa.com; www.tctpa.com