POWERGRAMS

24 Alabama's only federally recognized Native American tribe, the Creek Nation is involved in nearly every aspect of local life, operating 42 different businesses that stretch to Pennsylvania, California, Aruba and Caracao. The Creeks paid nearly $375 million in local, state and federal taxes in 2017. "Our business success is a testament to the tenacity of our Poarch Community and to our belief that it is not only important to do well, but to do good," says Tribal Chair and CEO Stephanie Bryan. "Our tribal lands are in a very rural part of Alabama, but that didn't keep our leaders from having an expansive vision of what might be possible. Starting with our first chief, Calvin McGhee, and continuing with all of the chairs who succeeded him – Eddie Tullis, Fred McGhee, Buford Rolin and myself – all of Poarch's tribal leaders have focused on creating and maintaining businesses that sustain our Tribe and create opportunities for others." Chief among those opportunities in Atmore is Wind Creek Hotel and Casino, which helped create "a steady revenue stream" for the Creeks and the community. While ensuring prosperity and self-determination for the tribe, the revenues have helped build ballfields and other facilities open to everyone in Atmore. "One of the projects I am most proud of is the Boys & Girls Club in our brand-new Community Center we built on tribal land," Bryan says. "It is an incredible resource for our tribal children and for children from the Atmore community. Growing up, I could have never imagined we would have anything like that." Around town, billboards declare "ATmore … Shop Local." Da Mud Bug Hot Tub invites customers to try their crawfish and other selections "Where We Makin' Groceries!" Crowds can be found every morning for breakfast Freight trains frequently interrupt vehicle traffic in midtown. Buster's Restaurant, left, and Whistle Stop are popular stops for diners.

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