Petersburg’s tribe bought two local businesses, finalizing the sale on August 16. The Petersburg Indian Association now owns Tides Inn, one of two hotels in town, as well as Highliner Car Rental. The tribe bought the two businesses as a package deal from the Ohmer family for $1.75 with federal COVID relief money.
Tribal Council President Debra O’Gara said the deal was just too good to pass up. She said there won’t be any big changes to the way either business is run for the time being.
“What the Ohmer family has developed and created is a successful business, and we don’t want to mess with that,” she said. “They do a great job, and we have the pleasure of really just jumping in and taking over an already successful business. It was really a no-brainer opportunity.”
In the long term, the tribe is interested in job training possibilities that come with the management of the hotel and car rental.
The hospitality industry is wide open for a lot of different types of on-the-job training,” she said. “Learning skills, not just making beds, but you’ve got bookkeeping, you’ve got front desk, you’ve got van drivers, we have an opportunity for somebody who wants to learn how to detail cars for a living.”
They also plan to look into holding cultural events in the lobby of the hotel for tourists, such as Tlingit art demonstrations.
“In the summertime, when tourists are coming through, to be able to offer them some kind of a cultural experience with their stay, and it provides an opportunity for Petersburg Indian Association and our citizens to be more visible and have an outlet there in the downtown tourist area,” she said.
The businesses will be managed by PIA Enterprises, a newly formed LLC under the umbrella of the Petersburg Indian Association. O’Gara said the tribe is looking for more ways to increase its income base – if it acquires other businesses, they will also be managed by PIA Enterprises.
