BY THE NUMBERS:
1,000: Jobs projected locally as a result of the redevelopment of the former Delphi plant on Wagner Ford Road.
30%: Minimal percentage of jobs at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway offered to Dayton residents.
10%: Minimal percentage of jobs at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway offered to minorities.
5%: Minimal percentage of jobs at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway offered to women.
Source: Penn National Gaming.
Staying with the story
The Dayton Daily News has reported extensively on the racino and the redevelopment of the former Delphi plant site in north Dayton and is committed to following the story.
Horse races will begin in October at the new Dayton racino, a development that owners and Montgomery County officials said Thursday would lead to about 1,000 jobs for the region.
The $125 million Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway is under construction at 4701 Wagner Ford Road.
“We’re very thankful for the investment by Penn National Gaming and the Hollywood facility. It’s redeveloping the brownfield site, the site of the former Delphi facility,” Montgomery County Commissioner Dan Foley said.
Penn National Gaming Inc. will operate the racino, where harness racing is scheduled to begin Oct. 3. Live horse racing will take place in the evening, five nights a week. Additional scheduling information is still being discussed among other area raceways and the Ohio Lottery Commission, officials said.
The gaming site also will feature at least 1,000 video lottery terminals, with the possibility of up to 1,500 machines.
“We believe the project is moving along very well,” said Gary Dewitt, vice president and general manager of Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway.
DeWitt said the jobs included positions expected at the racino itself and those expected through the development of new restaurants, hotels and other businesses near the 125-acre site in north Dayton.
Penn National is committed to a portion of the jobs created at the facility to be offered locally, Dewitt said, and more than 200 construction workers are already working to ensure the racino is operational by the fall.
Thirty percent of the jobs at the 150,00 square-foot facility are expected to be offered to Dayton residents, DeWitt told the Dayton Daily News on Thursday.
Ten percent of the jobs will be offered to minorities and five percent to women, he said.
Penn National is partnering with Sinclair Community College and Montgomery County Workforce Development to assist in filling the positions and hopes to partner with Central State University in the near future, according to DeWitt.
“A lot of people need to get jobs and work. That will help out the economy,” said Monica Shank of Trotwood, who talked as she stopped for gas in the area. “My daughter might need a job.”
The Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway is scheduled to operate and be staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“It’s going to provide many, many jobs that are needed in the area,” said Jeanette Martin-Owens of Dayton. “As long as it’s helping families out, putting food on their tables and paying their bills, I’m good with that,” she said.
DeWitt has said that a bulk of the hiring for jobs at the racino will take place over the summer. An exact number of positions has not been released yet.
Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway will be a nicotine-free environment for both guests and workers. During the application process, prospective employees will be screened for nicotine use, Dewitt said.
Penn National operates 27 facilities across the United States, including Hollywood Casino locations in Columbus and Toledo, and is based in Wyomissing, Penn.
An official opening day of the racino has not been announced, but Dewitt said they are targeting for the project to be complete by the fall. The start of the harness racing is not tied directly to the grand opening of the facility.
Montgomery County Officials are optimistic about the future of the racino and the area surrounding it. The county has already worked to create economic growth through the development along the riverfront.
“If you want to live, work and play, we’ve got some great options to play,” Foley said. “With this a mile or two away, you’re going to have a first-class facility where people can enjoy the horse races and the facility as a whole.”
Ohio approved seven racetracks for conversion to racinos in 2011.
Four of the racinos, including Miami Valley Gaming in Turtlecreek Twp., Warren County, are already operating. Dayton is one of three scheduled to open this year.
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