Tribe’s share of Escalade revenue would depend on traffic
Artists rendering of the proposed gondola tram at the Confluence, by the Grand Canyon Escalade proponents.
Artists rendering of the proposed gondola tram at the Confluence, by the Grand Canyon Escalade proponents.
PAGE, Ariz.
The Grand Canyon Escalade project is all but guaranteed, according to President Ben Shelly’s special advisor Deswood Tome.
But detailed analysis of the proposed bill for the planned resort above the confluence of the Colorado and Little Colorado rivers raises questions for residents of Bodaway-Gap Chapter and the Navajo Nation in general.
The proposed bill, to be sponsored by outgoing Council Delegate Duane Tsinigine (Bodaway-Gap/Coppermine/Kaibeto/LeChee/Tonalea-Red Lake), requires the Navajo Nation to pay at least $65 million for off-site infrastructure costs. This amounts to more than one-third of the project’s total cost. At most, however, the Navajo Nation can only receive 18 percent of gross revenues, according to the master agreement of the project.
The Confluence Partners would be required to secure at least $120 million for onsite infrastructure cost. It’s unclear whether they have secured that financing.
Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow