Report: Cherokees have $1B impact on Okla. economy

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The Cherokee Nation has released details of a report that show the Tahlequah-based tribe has an estimated $1 billion impact on the state's economy.

Commissioned by the tribe, the report released on Tuesday was prepared by Russell Evans, a research economist for Oklahoma City University.

The report studied the economic impact of the Cherokee Nation on a 14-county section of northeast Oklahoma. It noted the tribe's activities employs 9,000 people and provide more than $257 million in income to state residents.

The tribe itself employs more than 3,250 people, while its subsidiary, Cherokee Nation Businesses, employs an additional 5,400 Oklahomans.