Ak-Chin Indian Community Tribal Council extends pay and benefits for Community and Enterprises

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The Ak-Chin Indian Community Tribal Council recently approved funding to extend payroll and benefits for an additional two weeks to employees of their enterprises and the Tribal government, according to a press release recently issued by HMA Public Relations on behalf of the Ak-Chin Indian Community. This includes Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino and the UltraStar Multi-tainment Center at Ak-Chin Circle.

“In accordance with the Governor’s recent stay-at-home order, it has been necessary to extend the closure of our business enterprises as well as our administrative services,” said Robert Miguel, chairman of the Ak-Chin Indian Community. “With this financial support, our government and Enterprise employees can rest easier knowing they will be compensated for the remainder of the month.”

Photo credit: The Business Journals

Representatives from Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino offered thanks to the Tribal Council for their support. “This is an unprecedented time for all of us, and we are grateful to the Ak-Chin Tribal Council for their ongoing commitment to our employees,” said Robert Livingston, general manager of Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino. Harrah’s employs approximately 900 individuals, both tribal and non-tribal.

Adam Saks, general manager of UltraStar Multi-tainment Center, also thanked the Ak-Chin Tribal Council for their recent decision. “The Council has always been supportive of our team here at UltraStar and providing us with this additional funding means we can continue to support our employees,” Saks said. UltraStar has 225 employees, both tribal and non-tribal individuals.

The Ak-Chin Indian Community Tribal Council previously approved funding to continue employee pay through mid-April. This recent decision will cover employee payroll through the end of the month. “It is important to the Tribal Council that we continue to do what we can to support our employees,” said Chairman Miguel. “This is a challenging time for all of us, and we are glad that we have the ability to support these employees.”

The teams at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Indian Community, UltraStar Multi-tainment Center at Ak-Chin Circle, and the Ak-Chin Indian Community look forward to seeing everyone once the restrictions are lifted!

Carolyn Sostrom

Carolyn Sostrom is a long-time Arizona resident who loves desert sunsets, warm weather, Zumba, and the Western lifestyle. She attended Saguaro High School in Scottsdale and then Arizona State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Similarly to the protagonist in *The Devil Wears Prada*, Carolyn moved to New York City right after college. She started working for the fashion magazine company Conde Nast but never transitioned to the dark side. After a few years, she left New York in the rearview mirror and returned to her home state, taking a reporter job at the *Apache Junction Independent*. With over 30 years of freelance writing experience, Carolyn especially enjoys writing about community events and profiling individuals who are making a difference in their communities. She had the pleasure of interviewing a variety of cowboy personalities for an article she wrote for the *Scottsdale Independent* about the history of DC Ranch and its roots as a working ranch. Now, her Western adventures with CLN have her diving into the rugged automotive scene, exploring the trucks and rigs cowboys rely on for work, home, and play, a niche where grit meets horsepower. She works at Raising Special Kids, a nonprofit resource center for families of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. Carolyn also volunteers with the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix. Carolyn believes that everyone has a story, and she loves connecting with others to hear their stories. She’s dedicated to ethical journalism and accurate reporting, which shines through in her storytelling.