“It is really fun event for the whole community.” We are all about supporting families, so it’s a real honor to lead the parade,” said Executive Director Kellie Willis. Check out their Facebook page for more information. 'We're trying to grow the club like it was back in the day,' said sponsor Erin Gordanier.

Members are no longer required to pay the state and national fees to participate, just the club fees. The club is making it easier to join the team. “At least 15 percent more than the year before.The Ute Mountain Rodeo Team has restarted the tradition of participating in the parade.

“Revenues are up and we are experiencing more traffic,” he said. Additionally, the Travel Center has just signed a 10-year contract with Exxon-Mobil which will help fund future projects, he said. Chairman Heart said the casino was “looking at a possible hotel expansion”, and casino chief financial officer Ikrom Mamatmuminov noted several improvement projects that are in the works or completed, including the installation a new Point of Sale system to streamline casino staff and customer transactions, as well as the addition of 20 new slot machines. The new commercial truck lot is one of several other growth-centric endeavors the Ute Mountain Casino is embarking on.

“When we start looking at (Highway) 491, and these trucks coming down, giving them a place here will help us with economic development.” Members of the casino staff as well as tribal leadership were in attendance to bless the new lot, and celebrate the first 18-wheeler rolling through. The Ute Mountain Ute economic development division partially funded the $500,000 lot engineering and construction project. 16 ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new lot. “This is about economic development,” said Ute Mountain Ute tribal chairman Manuel Heart at a Feb. The roughly 60-truck capacity lot is directly across from the Travel Center, and includes new lighting and security cameras for safety. Ute Mountain Casino is in growth mode, officials say, and in response a new parking facility for commercial trucks is now open.

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