Wynn Resorts is making good on its promise to support local vendors in Massachusetts.
The casino operator recently announced it has awarded more than $3 million in contracts to certified veteran-owned businesses in the design phase of its Wynn Everett resort.
The contracts total $3,165,000, more than six times the $500,000 goal established by Wynn and the Massachusetts Gaming Commission for veteran-owned businesses in the design phase of the $1.7 billion integrated resort project, the company said in a statement.
Under the state’s Expanded Gaming Act, casino developers must tap minority, women and veteran-owned businesses as contractors during the design and construction phase of their gaming establishments.
The resort company said the initial plan was to have minority-owned businesses account for 7.9 percent of consultant or contractor participation for the Everett project, while women-owned businesses account for 10 percent and veteran-owned businesses account for just 1 percent. Wynn, however, pointed out that veteran-owned firms total 6.2 percent of the entire design-phase expense.
It’s all systems go for Wynn Resorts’ Everett project. Last September, the resort company received a critical approval from the City of Everett Planning Board, which will allow Wynn to finally apply for local building permits for the 33-acre casino complex. Wynn has also received another unanimous approval from the Everett Conservation Commission and an environmental permit from the Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs.
Wynn Resorts expects the project to generate more than 4,000 construction jobs, more than 4,000 permanent jobs and an estimated $260 million in annual tax revenue to the state.
Caesars names veteran as new head of Horseshoe Casino Baltimore
In keeping up with the theme, here’s another piece of “veteran” news: Caesars Entertainment named its 12-year veteran as the new general manager for Horseshoe Casino Baltimore.
Erin Chamberlin will take the reins from Chad Barnhill, who recently announced he is leaving Baltimore in December to head Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati, Baltimore Sun reported.
The 40-year-old held the position of vice president and general manager of the 2,500-room Planet Holly Casino and Resort in Las Vegas. She has also worked for Caesars in New Jersey between 2005 and 2011, including as a vice president of marketing for Caesars and Bally’s in Atlantic City.
Chamberlin believes she will be able to draw from her experience in “trying to drive folks to Atlantic City” and apply it in Baltimore. Horseshoe’s revenues dipped below $24 million in the second quarter of 2015 as a result of the riots that followed Freddie Gray’s death from injuries during his stint in police custody.
The casino, however, has been showing signs of recovery. Last month, Horseshoe Casino Baltimore posted $24.6 million in revenue, which is an increase of 9.8 percent from the same period last year.
