Poarch Creek Indians of Alabama Secure $217 Million NASA Contract; Kick Off Gambling Initiative
Alabama's Poarch Band of Creek Indians, the state's solitary federally recognized tribe, scored a significant economic triumph, courtesy of NASA.
PCI Productions LLC, a media company based in Huntsville owned by the tribe, secured a communications contract from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) last week. The contract, worth up to $217.6 million, includes a 16-month initial agreement with a potential 20-month extension, subject to the US government agency's approval.
PCI Productions, a subordinate of PCI Federal Services, will aid in the development of NASA's marketing and communication materials. According to NASA, the media firm will produce communication materials for NASA's space missions, stakeholder relations, public engagement, archives services, and Freedom of Information Act requests.
As Kristin Hellmich, Poarch Band spokesperson, expressed, "This type of contract isn't new for the tribe."
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians has a modest membership of about 2,700 individuals. However, the tribe's economic ventures encompass several multimillion-dollar enterprises. Apart from its federal contracting arm, the tribe is also invested in aviation maintenance, engineering, construction, facilities support, consulting, and technology. PCI Productions entered the competitive bidding process as a qualified 8(a) federal organization, a designation for Native Americans and historically disadvantaged groups.
While the tribe benefits economically from its gaming division – Wind Creek Hospitality – it also seeks to broaden its gaming opportunities in Alabama.
Alabama lacks commercial casinos or Class III Indian casinos. The casinos operated by Wind Creek in Alabama are limited to bingo-based gaming machines, not Las Vegas-style slot machines, table games, or sports betting. The tribe has long lobbied state lawmakers to relax their stance on traditional gambling, seeking legislation that would allow the incorporation of slots and table games.
The tribe is prepared to compromise, conceding its gaming monopoly in exchange for a Class III compact, a state-run lottery, and potential competition from commercial casino operators. Although no gaming expansion legislation has been proposed during the Alabama Legislature's 2023 session, the tribe recently launched another gaming expansion campaign in Alabama called "Winning for Alabama."
The campaign features commercials showcasing actors representing various professions advocating for the potential economic benefits of expanded gambling. The actors suggest that a gaming and lottery bill could generate 12,000 new jobs and $700 million in annual tax revenue for the state. This revenue, they claim, can be utilized for improvements in state infrastructure, education, healthcare, high-speed internet expansion, and public safety initiatives.
Call to Action
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians has expressed that Alabama's neighboring states are profiting from the absence of gambling options in the state. Commercial casinos are operational in neighboring Mississippi, and online sports betting is legal in Tennessee.
The campaign urges citizens to contact their legislators and advocate for a "smart gaming plan" coupled with a state lottery, stating, "Don't watch from the sidelines. Together, we win."
