Grand Casino, run by the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, closed March 16, 2020, re-opening its gaming floor during the summer after incorporating some health-safety measures, such as enhanced cleaning. The hospitality industry was hit particularly hard during the pandemic, state economic analysts report, including the tribal-run casinos and their related hotels and other businesses that are often anchor employers in their communities. More than a year later, those casinos continue to work toward reopening all of their offerings – but not without challenges. In March of 2020, shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic began shuttering businesses, Grand Casino closed its locations in Hinckley and Mille Lacs for several months.
