2024 Michigan Non-Gaming
Tribal Economic Impact Study
The 2024 Michigan Non-Gaming Tribal Economic Impact Study aims to assess the economic impact of Tribal Business Entities in Michigan.
An earlier version of this study, conducted in late 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic, involved nine Tribes and was widely recognized as a powerful first step in establishing the impact of Native American non-gaming economic diversification efforts in Michigan.
This report builds upon the research from 2019, offering a more detailed and updated analysis of the economic impact of Michigan TBEs over the last five years. The 2024 study includes the full participation of all 12 federally recognized Michigan Tribes and highlights how these nations are exercising their sovereignty to create opportunities resulting in financial benefits, growth, and sustainability. Both studies were coordinated by Waséyabek.
The 2024 study was funded by the MEDC through a grant from its Tribal Business Development Program. Data was collected and analyzed by aLocal.ai, a Native-owned business offering net economic impact analysis through its market and economic analytics software. To understand long-term trends, the 2019 dataset was adjusted to be comparable with the 2024 dataset. Since only nine Tribes participated in 2019, the data was normalized to represent all 12 federally recognized Tribes. Additionally, all 2019 financial figures were adjusted to 2024 USD using the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Index, accounting for a cumulative inflation rate of 17.6% from January 2020 to December 2024 (U.S. Department of Commerce, 2025). This adjustment allows for meaningful year-over-year comparisons with 2024 data.
Tribal Nations and Tribal businesses are economic anchors of the community that create and support thousands of good-paying jobs and drive billions of dollars in commerce. I am grateful to see the results of the thorough, multi-year Michigan Non-Gaming Tribal Economic Impact Study prove an economic reality that we see on the ground every day, that Tribal Nations in Michigan have a major financial impact on working families and provide essential infrastructure that supports our State. We are lucky to have Tribal partners that invest this success back into their communities, providing vital services region-wide for our shared citizens. As governor, I will continue competing to bring jobs and investments home to Michigan and figure out ways to help our sovereign Tribal Nations grow and diversify their economies too.
In these times of uncertainty, it’s more important than ever to diversify outside of gaming. The economy fluctuates, the political environment fluctuates, but economic diversification serves as the best defense against inevitable change.
