Choctaw Nation Opens Third Chahtapreneur Center in McAlester

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma has opened its third Chahtapreneur Business Center, this one housed inside the McAlester Public Library, according to Indian Gaming Magazine. Tribal and city officials, including Chief Gary Batton and Assistant Chief Jack Austin Jr., marked the opening of the renovated library and the attached business center.

The 3,500-square-foot space offers shared desks, a separate entrance, secured access and outdoor green space, and will be run by Choctaw Small Business Development. That team provides one-on-one advising, help with business plans, training, marketing support and introductions to lenders. The other two centers are in Durant and Idabel.

The tribe committed money through the Choctaw Development Fund in February 2026 for the library work and the creation of the center, and received naming rights as part of the deal. The tribal contribution is one piece of a $9 million renovation also funded by the City of McAlester, the Southeast Oklahoma Library System, the Puterbaugh Foundation and the Fuggitt Foundation.

Under the agreement, Choctaw Nation members can obtain free cards giving them access to all 17 SEOLS branches regardless of where they live, plus e-books, audiobooks and career and research databases. Batton said the arrangement is "a model for future community projects."

This story was first reported by Indian Gaming Magazine.