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Penn National Anticipates Groundbreaking Ceremony
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- From the road on Route 46 in Austintown, earth-moving equipment is again be seen active at the site of the Hollywood Slots at Mahoning Valley Race Course, as the developer of the racino moves toward setting a date for a press event in the coming weeks.
Penn National Gaming Inc. hopes to set a date next week for a ceremony to formally kick off the long-anticipated $125 million project, said spokesman Bob Tenenbaum.
Physical work at the site resumed a few days after the Ohio State Racing Commission gave its blessing May 1 to the transfer of the thoroughbred license from Penn National’s Beulah Park track in Grove City outside Columbus to Austintown, Tenenbaum said. Penn National is building the racino on the site of the former Centerpointe Business Park.
“We were held up to some degree when we suspended work because we suspended everything. We lost about a month which we’re hopeful that we can make up,” he said. “You will start to see a great deal more work on the site in the next few weeks.”
Penn National, based in Wyomissing, Pa., had targeted a second quarter 2014 opening for the Austintown Hollywood Slots, which will feature thoroughbred racing, video lottery terminals, dining and entertainment. Work was suspended around April 1 when the racing commission balked at approving the transfer of the thoroughbred license over concerns about inadequate seating for racing fans and stall and stabling issues. The commission ultimately approved a plan calling for the Austintown racino opening with 1,001 enclosed seats with a direct view of the track.
The adjustments did not require Penn National to rebid much of the work, Tenenbaum said. “There were some adjustments to some of the elements but I don’t think any of those had already been out for bid,” he said.
The project is anticipated to create about 1,000 construction jobs. Once it opens, the racino is expected to create another 1,000 direct and indirect jobs. Local officials expect the project to spur additional economic development activity around the site, which is located near the Interstate 80 exchange at Route 46.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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