Information

An Economic Success Story

The Tulalip Tribes and City of Marysville

August 2002

It's an unlikely partnership that has grown and flourished over the past decade. A story about two wary communities coming together in the face of generations of mistrust to garner the national spotlight. Thirty miles north of Seattle in Snohomish County, the Tulalip Tribes and City of Marysville are making history.

The bridge to bring the two together was created by The Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce.

In 1996, Chamber leadership expanded the name of its chamber from the Greater Marysville Chamber of Commerce to The Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce. While Tulalip was already one of its members, the Chamber wanted to formally recognize and support Tulalip's growing role in the region's economy, plus it wanted to demonstrate the strength that comes from working together in partnership.

To date, it is the first and only U.S. Chamber to partner with a sovereign nation. A new logo was developed to represent that from land to sea the two business communities were working together for their combined community success. The relationship began.

Today, Cal Taylor - one of the original and most skeptical of Tribal leader appointments to the Chamber's board, is in his second term as chairman of the Chamber.

"In the mid-1990's, Chamber leadership led a bold change of attitude in the Marysville business community," said Taylor. "When the new leadership of the Chamber asked to expand its name to include Tulalip, we eagerly accepted. Now business leaders on both sides of the freeway are working together to make our home a better place. We all want good schools, well paying jobs for our people and a diversified economy."

Historically, Interstate 5 separated the Tulalip Reservation and Marysville. Generations of non-Indians and Indians grew up next to each other, but didn't know one another. Decades of mistrust and stereotypical thinking took its toll. The Chamber's announcement heralded a new era.

"Our Board of Directors are courageous and visionary leaders who serve because they want to do something, rather than because they want to be something," said Caldie Rogers, Chamber President/CEO. "Under this group's watch, racism is no longer allowed and the days of begrudging a neighboring community's success are over. Instead, we are working together to find exciting ways to capitalize and grow on the backs of each other's successes."

Until opening its casino in 1992, Tulalip struggled under the yoke of poverty. Theirs was the first casino in Washington State to negotiate and achieve a State-Tribal gaming compact. Tulalip leaders insisted that the gaming facility be tribally owned and operated.

From the day it opened, the new casino has been bringing in dollars and creating jobs. As casino profits mounted and poverty gave way to self-sufficiency, the balance of economic strength began to shift to the west side of the freeway.

One decade later, the Tulalip Tribes are among the leading employers in Snohomish County - a county that is home to Boeing. Tulalip has cut its tribal unemployment by half. Its new business park, Quil Ceda Village , has become a job magnet for the surrounding region - keeping north Snohomish County recession proof.

Located next to I-5, Quil Ceda Village is a 2,000 acre business park being developed on prime real estate. The Village, which has been incorporated as a city under tribal law, is now home to a Wal*Mart, Home Depot and a retail complex, Quil Ceda Place .

A new $72-million casino will take center stage in the heart of the Village's entertainment complex. Upon completion, the complex will rank as a top West Coast tourist attraction. Along with the 215-thousand square-foot casino set to open next June, plans call for a convention center, hotels and restaurants. A high-end outlet-shopping village developed by the Chelsea Property Group showcasing 180 high-end national retailers is planned to anchor the north end of the Village. Talks are also under way for a 48-acre amusement park, a 20-acre water-park operation and a RV park.

In total, Quil Ceda Village is expected to generate up to 5,000 jobs in the course of the next five years. Of those jobs, 1,300 will be at the new casino. The full complex is expected to generate 15 to 21 million visitors a year to north Snohomish County . The revenue stream from dollar spending shoppers, tourists and employees will impact northern Snohomish County in ways never seen before.

Chamber Chairman Taylor said that Tulalip accepting the Marysville Chamber's offer to expand its name was a smart move at the right time. "Once we did, both Tulalip and Marysville realized we both had something to offer. Our communities both wanted well planned economic growth - but growth that would protect our quality of life. At that time, Tulalip was trying to achieve credibility in the local business climate, and the Chamber helped guide us toward that goal."

Throughout the 90's, Tulalip partnered with the cities of Marysville and Everett, Snohomish County and Washington State bringing millions of tribal dollars to key government-to-government projects. It was a learning process in which each government realized that by working together - everyone could benefit. The Tribes achieved successful governmental agreements on sewer, water and road projects saving citizens on both sides millions in taxes. Adding to the savings are millions in multi-jurisdictional grant monies previously inaccessible as individual municipalities.

"Tulalip and the state were partners in getting the I-5 88th Street interchange built," said Taylor. "And today, Tulalip is working with both the state and Marysville on the I-5 116th Street road improvements. And that's where the Chamber comes in -- they're key to facilitating government-to-government relations. These road improvements help our entire community. Everyone is tired of the traffic. We're talking about state and local tax dollars combined with tribal hard dollars to make these improvements."

Now as Tulalip expands, Marysville is keeping pace, rezoning its north end for business and industry parks that will accommodate the family wage paying support service industries that Tulalip's entertainment complex will require.

Over the past ten years, Tulalip has contributed over $4 million in mandated community impact funds to its neighboring local government jurisdictions, libraries, police, sheriff and fire departments. In addition, Tulalip has spent comparable millions in outright donations to its neighboring communities' schools, youth programs, museums, community and charitable organizations.

A lasting testimony to the success of this partnership will be unveiled Tuesday, September 7th, when The Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce opens the doors to its new regional facility situated at the north/south east/west crossroads of the two communities it serves.

Located at the gateway to Tulalip's Quil Ceda Village on the corner of I-5 and the 88th Street Interchange, the expansive facility will include a regional tourism and visitor's bureau featuring a high-tech video wall showcasing video loops of the state's tourist attractions. A conference/classroom center will host Chamber committee and community service organization meetings and classroom training. The conference center will also support regional economic development recruitment efforts. The new Membership and Information Services Departments will offer an innovative and unprecedented scope of services for both its business and residential communities. The new Small Business/Entrepreneurial Development center will provide 'hands on' assistance for new and existing area businesses.

Adjacent to Chamber offices will be the new Quil Ceda Conference Center, designed with inlaid paneling accented with marble and equipped for teleconferencing facilities and a full-service kitchen for catering. Regional board meetings, classroom seminars, public hearings and receptions will be held at the center.

Joining the members of the Chamber in funding this dream are The Tulalip Tribes, principle funder, the City of Marysville and Snohomish County.

"The facility represents the courage and vision of true leaders, the strength of partnerships, and the faith and trust that lies at the center of them," sums up Rogers .

An important bridge has been built between the people of Tulalip and Marysville. And though it may have caused some 'raised eyebrows' in the '90's, it was just a matter of time before these two strong communities would reach out to each other through the bridge created by their Chamber.

On September 11th, Governor Locke convened the state's first Economic Development Summit. The agenda included "How to Partner with Tribes for Community Success." Joining keynote speaker Stephen Cornell, Co-Director Harvard Project on American Indians were Tulalip Tribes Chairman of The Board Herman Williams Jr. and Chamber President Caldie Rogers as a shining example of what can be.

On a national level, top US Chamber officials will be flying out from Washington D.C. October 16th to take part in the new facility's grand opening ceremonies and to document this multicultural partnership as a national role model for economic success.

For generations, tribal elders have taught "to plan for their children's, children's, children." It appears the people of north Washington state are listening. And, soon the nation will be listening as well.