Editorial: Winnebago Tribe's business makes a big contribution

In myriad ways, this community and region benefits from the vision, the creative spirit, and the commitment to and investment of capital necessary for economic growth produced through Ho-Chunk's rise in profile, scope and influence.

Ho-Chunk began in 1994 with one employee and the goal of diversifying Winnebago Tribe investments. Today, Ho-Chunk employs more than 1,000 men and women and operates more than 30 subsidiaries in a wide range of industries in 10 states and several foreign countries. Those industries, according to its website, include information technology, construction, government contracting, professional services, wholesale distribution, office products and technology, logistics, marketing, media and retail.

Theirs is an impressive story, indeed.

From its purchase and renovation of the signature downtown Terra Centre (today it's the Ho-Chunk Centre), to investment in the $4 million River Valley Apartments complex in North Sioux City, to the (ultimately unsuccessful) submission of a $122 million proposal for development of a downtown casino-and-hotel complex in and near the former Warrior Hotel building, to hoped-for plans for redevelopment of the former Atokad horse track in South Sioux City into a gaming and entertainment venue, to its new plans for Virginia Street, and more, Ho-Chunk continues to seek opportunities for investment and development of benefit to the economy and quality of life in our metro region.