SANDERS, AZ — Navajo Nation President Nygren joined community members on July 2 to celebrate the grand opening of the new Nahata’Dziil Marathon Fuel Center and Sonic, recognizing the Navajo-owned development as another major investment in economic growth, local job creation, and long-term prosperity for the Sanders community.
Developed by the Navajo Nation Hospitality Enterprise (NNHE), the 5,500-square-foot convenience store features a Marathon-branded fuel station with an attached Sonic restaurant. The approximately $8 million project was designed and constructed by Onsite Development Inc. and funded by NNHE as part of its ongoing commitment to expanding Navajo-owned businesses and strengthening the Nation’s economy.
Located near Interstate 40 on Navajo-Hopi Land Settlement property, the business is strategically positioned to serve both local residents and travelers while generating fuel excise taxes, sales tax revenue, and increased economic activity for the Navajo Nation. Most importantly, the facility has created 33 new jobs, providing meaningful employment opportunities for Navajo families and allowing more people to work closer to home. These positions help build valuable workforce experience, strengthen financial stability for families, and keep more dollars circulating within the local economy.
During the celebration, President Nygren reflected on returning to the site less than a year after its groundbreaking, noting how a vision has become a thriving business that will benefit the community for generations.
“When people come together, work together, when communities believe in themselves, and when we refuse to give up, great things happen,” President Nygren said.
He emphasized that the investment represents far more than a gas station and restaurant—it represents opportunity, hope, and a stronger future for Navajo families. He noted that projects like the Nahata’Dziil Fuel Center create pathways for young Navajo people to build successful careers without having to leave their communities, while demonstrating that economic development can directly improve the quality of life for Diné families.
President Nygren thanked the Navajo Nation Hospitality Enterprise Board, Council Delegates Otto Tso and Casey Allen Johnson, Arbin Mitchell, General Manager Herlinda Etsitty and her staff, chapter leadership, project partners, construction crews, and everyone whose collaboration and vision made the project possible.
The new fuel center builds on years of investment in Nahata’Dziil. In 2019, the Nahata’Dziil Shopping Center opened following an $11 million investment that expanded retail, dining, and laundry services. The Navajo Nation has also continued investing in housing, agriculture, and community infrastructure, including a partnership with the Navajo-Hopi Land Commission to construct 12 new homes for local families.
As a Navajo-owned and Navajo-leased development, revenue generated by the business will be reinvested into future projects across the Navajo Nation, creating a cycle of continued investment that supports additional jobs, services, and economic opportunities. The development is expected to generate approximately $6 million in annual revenue for NNHE and includes a 25-year lease, with annual lease payments beginning in the fifth year directed to the Diné Relocatee Fund to support families impacted by the 1974 Navajo-Hopi Land Settlement Act.
President Nygren said the project’s success extends beyond the new building itself.
“Progress is not measured by buildings—it is measured by people, by the opportunities we create for our families, and by the hope we give the next generation.”
He encouraged community members to continue supporting Navajo-owned businesses and working together to build an even stronger future, noting that the grand opening reflects the Navajo Nation’s continued commitment to creating jobs, strengthening local economies, and expanding opportunities that allow Diné families and future generations to thrive.
