Oneida Nation’s Economic Impact Reaches $1.09 Billion in Wisconsin

Chamber members gained a deeper understanding of a key regional economic driver at the April Greater Green Bay Chamber Economic Development Board meeting, where a new independent study from fellow members St. Norbert College and the Oneida Nation was presented.

The study highlights the scale and reach of the Oneida Nation’s economic footprint, estimating $1.09 billion in total economic activity in Wisconsin by 2025, along with more than $94 million in taxes paid to non-tribal governments.

For members, those numbers reflect more than just economic output. They represent real activity flowing through local businesses, jobs that support families and communities, and partnerships that strengthen the broader regional economy.

The report breaks down that $1.09 billion into several layers. Approximately $653 million comes from direct economic activity, including spending on salaries, goods and services. That investment alone supports 3,266 jobs. From there, the impact continues to ripple outward through indirect and induced effects, as employees spend wages locally, suppliers scale to meet demand and businesses grow alongside that activity.

While gaming remains an important component, the study underscores that it is only part of a much broader and increasingly diversified economic portfolio. About one-third of Oneida Nation’s total economic activity is tied to gaming, supporting roughly 1,500 jobs. The remainder spans a wide range of enterprises, including financial services, hospitality operations such as hotels, retail fuel and convenience stores, agricultural and agritourism ventures, and commercial leasing partnerships with businesses ranging from grocery stores to retail tenants.

That diversification is meaningful for Chamber members, as it reflects expanding opportunities for collaboration, supply chain partnerships and shared growth across industries.

The study also points to significant growth over time. Since the last analysis in 2018, Oneida Nation’s economic impact has increased by approximately $249 million. That growth is driven by expansion across business lines and continued reinvestment in infrastructure and services.

The findings are further grounded in a broader historical context. Prior to the rise of tribal gaming in the 1990s, the Oneida Nation, like many Indigenous communities, faced limited economic opportunity, with many members relying on low-wage, seasonal work. Today’s impact reflects decades of strategic development and investment.

A key part of that strategy is reinvestment. Revenue generated by Oneida Nation is directed back into healthcare, education, public safety, infrastructure and land reacquisition efforts to support not only economic development, but long-term community stability and growth.

Taken together, the study presents a picture of an economy that is not only substantial in size but deeply connected to the region’s overall economic health. The $1.09 billion impact represents an evolving network of businesses, jobs and investments that continue to create value across Northeast Wisconsin.