Dec 11, 2007 7:10 pm US/Eastern
Plans For Majestic Star Casino Move Forward
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
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Don Barden speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Majestic Star Casino on the North Shore.
KDKA
After more than a year of planning, groundbreaking on the new North Shore casino happened this morning.
Casino officials and local politicians were on hand to toss the first soil at the site of the Majestic Star Casino.
Heavy equipment rolled just after dignitaries turned earth as part of the official ground breaking.
Casino owner Don Barden insisted that despite some last minute concern about the size of the casino's garage, the casino would be an asset to the region.
"We're here to start construction on a major project to provide jobs, permanent jobs of over 1,000, to the people of this area," said Barden. "We're here to provide thousands of construction jobs, and tens of millions of dollars worth of contracts to local vendors. We're here to contribute over $240 million a year to the state. We're here to contribute $10 million to the county a year, $10 million to the city a year and $7.5 million a year to the Penguins."
That's only part of what Barden intends to do for this region.
There's money going to the North Side Development Corporation and a lot more in terms of jobs and the ability to bring people into Pittsburgh as a major attraction to this region.
Right now, construction trucks won't be running around the clock but at least in double shifts, because Barden intends to make the deadline and have the casino open sometime the spring of 2009.
Stay with KDKA for more coverage of today's groundbreaking ceremonies.
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