The Oneida Nation says it plans to build a new casino costing more than $40 million in Bridgeport, along the border of Cicero and Onondaga County in north Central New York. The project will be built with unionized workers under a project labor agreement.
The 65,000 sq. ft. Point Place Casino “is the latest in the Nation’s record of Central New York investments that have created thousands of jobs and generated significant public revenues for the region,” the Oneida Nation says in a news release.
“We are thrilled to announce this new investment in Central New York, and are confident it will continue the success we have had in working hand-in-hand with the local community to create good jobs and generate public revenues,” said Oneida Nation representative and Nation Enterprises CEO Ray Halbritter. “Over the last few decades, we have worked hard to build a well-planned economic model that has sustained and invigorated the local economy – and our expansion projects have almost always exceeded expectations. In the coming months, we are looking forward to working with the community to launch this latest project and build off that success.”
As with all major Oneida Nation projects, the construction of Point Place Casino will follow a project labor agreement with Central New York trade unions, creating 250 local construction jobs, which have a long history of completing Nation projects on time and on budget, the news release says. Construction will begin in May and the casino is expected to open in spring 2018.
“For more than 20 years, the Oneida Nation has entrusted their new development and expansion projects to us and kept local union trade workers working,” Pat Costello, area representative of the Central and Northern New York Building Trades Council, said in a statement. “Through decades of investments in our community, and as an engine of economic development for our entire region, the Oneida Nation has provided leadership for other employers and reaffirmed their commitment to our shared prosperity.
“As with all Oneida Nation development projects, Oneida Nation officials have taken extra time – and devoted significant additional resources – to ensuring that the construction plans mitigate onsite noise, light and drainage issues, and reflect the community’s interests,” the announcement said.
