Oneida Indian Nation Announces Worker Housing

As a result of an urgent need to fill casino and hotel positions, the Oneida Indian Nation said on Monday that it would provide 50 new central New York residences at prices below market rates to its hourly employees. Businesses around the country, particularly in the service industry, are having difficulty filling open jobs. The housing decision is the operator’s strategy to attract workers.

Residents will be able to move into the $15 million apartment complex near Oneida’s Turning Stone casino west of Utica beginning on July 1. According to the operator, both new, full-time workers moving to the region and those filling jobs where there are shortages will have access to the affordable housing options.

“The Oneida people have always emphasized the importance of hospitality and warmly welcoming all to our homelands. This new investment in our workforce presents a wonderful opportunity for us to create additional jobs, bring new people to our region, and provide affordable housing for the individuals who support the success of our enterprises.”

Oneida Indian Nation Representative and Oneida Nation Enterprises CEO Ray Halbritter

Apartments with one bedroom will start at $550 per month in The Villages at Stoney Creek. On the flip side, the biggest apartments with three bedrooms will rent for $750 per month. Monthly rent of $650 will be charged for the units with two bedrooms. Oneida Nation Enterprises is currently responsible for about 4,500 jobs within the tribe’s casino activities and other enterprises.

This is a novel approach to filling open positions. However, only new hires in full-time, hourly, non-management positions will be able to take advantage of them.

More Development Plans

As it turns out, Oneida Nation Enterprises’ initial phase of employee housing construction, the Villages at Stoney Creek, is just a small portion of its long-term employee housing plan.

Oneida Nation Enterprises takes the crown as one of the region’s top employers and the largest employer in the Oneida and Madison Counties. This is an indication of its dedication to the region’s prosperity and progress. This is the operator’s 30th year of service to the Central New York Community with the Turning Stone Resort Casino, and it has continually increased its staff throughout this period.

Oneida Nation Enterprises is often lauded for its work in promoting the local economy as a whole. Investing in the region’s workforce and promoting Upstate New York tourism have earned it recognition from the CNY Business Journal’s first Mohawk Valley GEAR Awards.