Penn National Sets Forum for Contractors, Vendors
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Local contractors and vendors interested in providing goods or services for the new Hollywood Slots at Mahoning Valley Race Course in Austintown can learn more about opportunities at a community outreach event set for Jan. 17.
Penn National Gaming Inc. of Wyomissing, Pa., which is developing the $125 million track, Turner Construction Co., Cleveland, construction manager for the project, and the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber are hosting the event. It will take place from 4-6 p.m. at Ciminero's Banquet Center, Niles.
The idea is to provide local companies the information they need to participate in the bidding process, said Bob Tenenbaum, Penn National spokesman.
"This is something that Penn National always does because when we come into a community, it's obviously a very significant project," he said. "Our goal always is to have a considerable amount of local involvement." Additionally, the company wants to provide opportunities for minority- and women-owned contractors as well.
"It's part of coming into a community and being a good corporate citizen, and the idea is to start that right at the beginning when it's in the construction phase," he added.
Jason Jones, general manager for Turner, confirmed his company is "certainly interested in local participation. This is our way of finding out who's interested."
Turner is constructing a similar racino project for Penn National in Dayton, and is similarly engaging the community there, he said. The objective is to reach out to local vendors and explain the process so they can become pre-qualified to pursue securing work on the construction job.
The agenda for the two-hour event includes project team introductions, a project overview, information on community participation and upcoming bid opportunities, and questions and answers, according to a flier promoting the event. Upcoming bid opportunities include building concrete, structural steel, site cut and fill, and site utilities.
"This is for all kinds of construction work, both outside and inside," Tenenbaum said.
"Our intentions are to get the local community involved at both the business and the individual level, with the contractors and the trade workers both," Jones added. There will be further meetings beyond the Jan. 17 event, he said.
The racino project, located at the former Centerpointe Business Park off Route 46 in Austintown, will include a thoroughbred racetrack and video lottery terminal facility with restaurants, bars and other features at the 186-acre site.
"It's a $125 million project and it's something that doesn’t come along in this community every day," said Tony Paglia, vice president of governmental affairs for the chamber. "We're hoping this meeting will provide the kind of information area contractors and businesses can use to bid on this project."
Paglia agreed that Turner Construction Co. seems to be "very interested in utilizing local companies" on the project.
Site work started last month at the track site, and likely will continue over the next month or two. "A lot of that depends on the weather. Obviously in winter you're always looking at the possibility of delays," Tenenbaum said.
Construction of the racino complex should take 14-18 months.
Before scheduling a groundbreaking at the site, Penn National awaits final approval from the Ohio State Racing Commission of its application to transfer its thoroughbred license from Beulah Park in Columbus to Austintown site. The commission must establish a rule permitting the transfer to take place. Its next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 10.
Although "the process is taking a while," Penn National doesn't foresee any difficulty with the rule change or transfer, Tenenbaum said. "Obviously we feel pretty optimistic about the process getting to where it needs to be because we're going ahead with work on the site," he remarked.
Individuals and companies interested in attending the Jan. 17 event are asked to contact Leslie Malov at Turner Construction Co. by telephone at 216 522 1180 or via email.
Copyright 2013 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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