SANDERS, Ariz. — Right off I-40 in front of Bashas, community members, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, Council Delegates Otto Tso and Arbin Mitchell celebrated the start of something new.
The $7 million Sanders Fuel Center project includes a Marathon gas station with eight fuel pumps and a Sonic drive thru which will provide jobs for 25-30 people.
The entire project is funded by the Navajo Nation Hospitality Enterprise where they expect to generate $6 million in annual revenue. The income will go back into operations and aiding other NNHE aging projects across the Nation.
The Navajo-owned and Navajo-lease spans an initial 25 years with annual rental payments beginning in year five which will be deposited into the Diné Relocatee Fund, providing support to families impacted by the 1974 Navajo-Hopi Land Settlement Act.
“This is more than a project,” said President Nygren. “This is for the people, the community and our little ones to not only provide a gas station and food, but give back to those who were relocated to live here. By investing in this project, we’re investing in our people and generations to come.”
As the fuel center general manager, Herlinda Etsitty, held a teal shovel marking groundbreaking day on July 18, she reminisced on her own family as they were relocated to the Sanders area following the Navajo-Hopi Land Settlement Act in 1974.
“I relocated here in 1987 with my late parents during the summer of my 6th grade year,” said Etsitty. “When we first came out here, there was hardly anything and over time with the community and planning of everything this is what we’re creating- the Bashas and now the fuel center- it’s going to benefit a lot, new jobs for the community, opportunities, it’s exciting.”
The project is expected to be completed by spring 2026 welcoming locals and tourists alike taking a pit stop off I-40.
“This was really driven by the community,” said Donovan Hanley, NNHE Chairman. “The community came to the chapter, the chapter came to the division of economic development and said, ‘We really want something here.”
