Navajo Nation enterprises seek tribal support funds

Bulk of the funding request, $15 million, is to replenish gaming treasury

FARMINGTON — A new Navajo Nation bill proposes $34.1 million in supplemental funding to help six Navajo Nation enterprises that are struggling to meet financial obligations and avoid the layoff of employees due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The bill proposes to appropriate the amount from the Unreserved Undesignated Fund Balance to the enterprises because each one continues to be financially impacted due to public health emergency orders that reduce operations and services.

According to the bill, the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority is requesting $7.8 million to cover hazard pay for 808 employees.

Navajo Nation Shopping Centers Inc. is requesting $903,541 to enhance safety at its locations and to cover hazard and special duty pay for employees.

The Navajo Engineering and Construction Authority is requesting $6.9 million to cover hazard pay for employees.

Navajo Nation Hospitality Enterprise is requesting $1.4 million for employee pay while the Navajo Arts and Crafts Enterprise is requesting $2 million to maintain payroll for its employees.

The bulk of the funding request is going to the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise at $15 million, which will be used to replenish the casino treasury — or “cage” — as well as cover payroll, health care coverage for 1,100 employees, fixed operating expenses and expenses related to reopening the four facilities.

A document attached to the legislation states the enterprise has “fully exhausted” its capital set aside, funding from the federal Paycheck Protection Program and others.

Brian Parrish, interim CEO of the gaming enterprise, told the Resources and Development Committee that 1,120 employees remain temporarily laid off. If no funding is secured, then the employees would be permanently let go.