"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - BIA Tells Congress It Will Wait

"CNI chief executive officer, Bryan Collins, and Bixby Mayor Ray Bowen break ground, as
CNI enters the public sector in construction management to build a premier sports park complex for the City of Bixby."

BIXBY, Oklahoma – This week the City of Bixby and Cherokee Nation Industries celebrated the groundbreaking of the city’s Bentley Park Sports Complex, marking a milestone for both organizations.

“Cherokee Nation Industries is eagerly looking forward to working with the City of Bixby on what will certainly be one of the best youth sports complexes in all of Oklahoma,” said Bryan Collins, chief executive officer of Cherokee Nation Industries.

The company’s first public sector construction project, valued at more than $5 million, is for construction of a premier sports facility in the City of Bixby. The park will consist of a baseball quad, softball quad, super playground, spray ground, international soccer field and miscellaneous court areas. The new construction will complement an existing state-of-the-art baseball quad along with a 14-field soccer complex.

“Bentley Park is going to be a phenomenal addition to the City of Bixby’s parks and recreation program, and we just thank the City for giving us the opportunity to work on a project that will impact the entire community,” said Roy J. Hannaford, executive vice president of construction for Cherokee Nation Industries. “CNI is overjoyed to be part of such a project, and we look forward to doing more work with the City of Bixby and other municipalities as our construction division grows.”

CNI has completed nearly $100 million in construction on health centers and other tribal ventures in the last two years before making the Bentley Park Sports Complex its first municipal project.

“The City of Bixby is very excited about having Cherokee Nation Industries as the contractor for Bentley Park,” said Joe Bowen, mayor of Bixby. “I'm sure they will make this project, their first public contract, a showcase for the rest of Oklahoma to see. Personally as a former coach, it is very exciting to watch the progress of what I believe will be the finest sports complex in Oklahoma and the region. This will set the standard for the rest of the area."

CNI and its affiliated companies are wholly-owned by the Cherokee Nation. CNI was established in 1969 to serve as the economic and workforce arm for the Cherokee Nation. This tribal corporation specializes in aerospace and defense manufacturing, telecommunications, construction, distribution and personnel services. For more information on Cherokee Nation Industries, visit the company’s web site.