Less than a month after taking the oath of office, Principal Chief of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation James Floyd gave his first State of the Nation address on Saturday as the tribe’s new leader. Floyd was elected last November and defeated incumbent George Tiger in a two-to-one margin. During his address to the Muscogee Nation, Floyd said he has spent the last four weeks thoroughly examining the efficiency, policies, and procedures of all departments.
“Realignment will be necessary to be more efficient, to rid ourselves of duplicate efforts and to reduce the practice of reliance on appropriated tribal funds,” Floyd said. “We will continue to strive to be practical, to set clear priorities, and be open minded and to have open communication with staff and citizens.”
Floyd announced a balanced tribal budget for the remainder of 2016 after the tribe faced an $18 million shortfall in the gaming budget last summer. He also said Muscogee businesses are growing, and as of December 31st, 2015 the tribe’s permanent fund has a market value of $304 million dollars. The tribe currently has several construction projects underway including a resort hotel, a new clinic, an emergency room expansion, a Creek Council House Visitor’s Center and plans to build a resort at Lake Eufaula.
The tribe currently employs over 1,200 people and is beginning an apprenticeship program for electricians, plumbers, carpenters and heating, ventilation and air conditioning specialists. Recently the United States Department of Veterans Affairs selected the Muscogee (Creek) Nation to receive twenty permanent housing vouchers for homeless vets, and the nation has also submitted to the Department of Interior’s Land Buy-back Program.
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