Greg Sarris plans Economic Development

In April 2003, Greg solicited bids for business partners. The Tribe entered into an agreement with Station Casinos, Inc. to acquire land for its Reservation to develop and manage a destination resort hotel and casino. The Tribe borrowed over $225 million from Station Casinos for the purchase of the property that became the Tribe’s Reservation and for the pre-development costs of the Graton Resort and Casino.

At the request of elected officials and local environmental groups, the Tribe twice moved the proposed location of its Reservation to respond to local land use and environmental concerns. The Reservation consists of 254 acres of land: 64 of which will be used for the development of the Graton Resort and Casino, the remainder of which will be held for open space and mitigation.

Greg Sarris plans Economic Development
Greg Sarris plans Economic Development

Full Environmental Review

In February 2004, the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) began preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Project. The final EIS, published in February 2009, includes a comprehensive analysis of eight different alternatives. The Tribe agreed to implement all mitigation measures identified in the Record of Decision approving the EIS.

Land into Trust

On October 1, 2010, the United States Department of the Interior accepted the 254-acre site into trust and established the Tribe’s Reservation. The NIGC has determined that the lands within the Tribe’s new reservation constitute “Indian lands” and are eligible for gaming.

Compact With State of California

Led by Greg’s skillful lobbying and political savvy, on March 27, 2012, the Governor of California signed a gaming compact with the Tribe to conduct Class III gaming. The compact was then ratified by the California Legislature and approved by the Secretary of the Interior in July 2012. The Compact, which will directly benefit the Tribe’s nearly 1,300 citizens, the local community, and the State, includes the following provisions:

  • The Compact establishes the Graton Mitigation Fund for the purpose of mitigating the impact of the Tribe’s gaming operation on the local community and requires that the Tribe pay up to 15% of gross income to the Graton Mitigation Fund. Revenues from the Graton Mitigation Fund will be distributed on a quarterly basis to the City of Rohnert Park and Sonoma County in amounts ranging from at least an estimated $10 million per year, to an estimated $36 million per year or more, in the later years of the Compact, with the remainder being paid to the RSTF and a new fund, the Tribal Nation Grant Fund, to provide grants to assist California tribes.

  • The Compact protects the health, safety, and welfare of employees and patrons of the gaming facility.

  • The Compact protects the environment during the construction and operation of the gaming facility and any expansion thereof.

  • The Compact ensures the integrity of the gaming operations through regulation and regular audits.

Greg Sarris plans Economic Development