NATIONAL HARBOR, Md., March 25,
2015 /PRNewswire/ -- MGM National Harbor, LLC, a
subsidiary of MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM), today
celebrated the contributions of its construction company partners
and workforce, all of which are working together to bring a
world-class destination resort to Prince
George's County. After receiving building permits just eight
months ago, the project has hired the 1,000th member of
its construction workforce, as it moves toward its opening in the
second half of 2016.
Nearly 300 invited guests attended the event which was held on
the project site, marking the project's remarkable progress. Among
those attending were MGM Resorts International Chairman and CEO
Jim Murren, President and COO of MGM
National Harbor Lorenzo Creighton, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, Senate President Mike Miller and other state legislators, as well
as Prince George's County Executive Rushern
Baker, community leaders and project supporters.
"It's amazing to think that this is the same piece of land I
stood on less than three years ago – untouched but so full of
potential for the residents of Prince
George's County and the State of
Maryland," said Murren. "While we still have hard work
ahead, this is an achievement of which the people of Prince George's County – many of whom are
standing and working on site today – can be proud. Today we
celebrate the dedicated men and women who turn vision into
reality."
Governor Larry Hogan spoke of the
impact the MGM National Harbor project will have on the future of
Maryland.
"This is a great day for Prince
George's County and the entire state of Maryland. Having grown up in this county, I
know the positive effect this project is already having on the
livelihoods of so many hardworking Marylanders," said Governor
Hogan. "The impact MGM National Harbor will have on our state and
workforce will be tremendous, and not only for the 1,000 skilled
construction workers we are celebrating today, but for the
thousands of jobs that will be created once this magnificent
building opens its doors next year."
Creighton said, "The hiring of MGM National Harbor's
1000th construction worker marks a significant milestone
in a process that started at the ballot box in 2012. We are honored
to have been chosen for this project and look forward to delivering
a special destination of which the people of Prince George's County and Maryland can be incredibly proud.
Since work on the site began last summer, more than 500,000
cubic yards of soil – enough to fill Ravens stadium – have been
removed from the site and excavation is nearing completion. More
than 6,000 foundation piles have been installed and the first of
what will be hundreds of thousands of square feet of concrete is
now being placed. The first "slab on grade" pour was made in
February for the lowest level of the parking garage. By summer, the
four cranes towering over the site will grow to 10, and the average
daily number of workers on site will continue to grow from
approximately 160 in January to more than 1,000.
"Currently the largest development project in the County, MGM
National Harbor is creating thousands of good paying jobs and has
made a commitment to hiring employees and contractors from
Prince George's," said County
Executive Rushern L. Baker, III. "I
wish them continued success as they work to build a $1.2 billion destination resort that will attract
attention and visitors from around the world."
While working hard on construction, MGM National Harbor is also
hard at work fulfilling its commitment to utilize local and
minority vendors on the project. Even though work is still ramping
up, 62 local community Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs)
certified by either the Maryland Department of Transportation or
Prince George's County are already
engaged. These businesses include locally-based companies including
Arel Architects, which was engaged to provide administrative
management for the project team's permit application processes.
"It's humbling to reflect on the past year and all that's been
done to make this project a reality," said Ronald Lipford, president and CEO of Arel
Architects, Inc., a certified minority-owned business located in
the Temple Hills community of
Prince George's County. "We were
among the first Prince George's
County companies to partner with MGM on this monumental
undertaking, and it's exciting to see just how many more local and
minority-owned businesses have been brought into the mix with many
more to come."
Phyllis James, Executive Vice
President and Chief Diversity Officer for MGM Resorts
International, emphasized that the company's continuing commitment
extends beyond local MBE participation to include local hiring as
well.
"The Community Benefits Agreement signed by MGM and Prince George's County assures that thousands
of jobs, tens of millions in payroll, and robust local minority
business opportunities stay in Prince George's County during both
construction and operations of the new resort," said James. "We're
committed to ensuring that local and minority-owned businesses are
among the biggest beneficiaries of this agreement long after the
doors of MGM National Harbor open."
MGM National Harbor is a destination gaming resort project
located in National Harbor, the waterfront development on the
shores of the Potomac River in Prince
George's County, just south of Washington, D.C. near the Woodrow Wilson
Bridge. In December 2013, MGM
National Harbor was awarded a license to operate the sixth casino
in the State of Maryland. The
$1.2 billion MGM National Harbor
resort will include a 23-floor, 300- room luxury hotel, a casino
featuring 3,600 slots and 160 table games (including poker), a
3,000 seat theater, 18,000 square feet of highend branded retail,
27,000 square feet of meeting space, 4,800 parking spaces, and
restaurants from renowned local and national chefs.
About MGM Resorts International: MGM Resorts
International (NYSE: MGM) is one of the world's leading global
hospitality companies, operating a portfolio of destination resort
brands including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage.
The Company is in the process of developing MGM National Harbor in
Maryland and MGM Springfield in
Massachusetts. The Company also
owns 51 percent of MGM China Holdings Limited, which owns the MGM
Macau resort and casino and is developing a gaming resort in Cotai,
and 50 percent of CityCenter in Las
Vegas, which features ARIA Resort and Casino. For more
information about MGM Resorts International, visit the Company's
website at www.mgmresorts.com.
Statements in this release that are not historical facts are
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. MGM National Harbor
has based forward-looking statements on management's current
expectations and assumptions and not on historical facts. Examples
of these statements include, but are not limited to, statements
regarding the timing and development of MGM National Harbor. These
forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and
uncertainties. Among the important factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those indicated in such
forward-looking statements include effects of economic and market
conditions and competition with other destination travel locations
throughout the United States and
the world, and the design, timing and costs of the project and
additional risks and uncertainties described in the MGM Resorts
International Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports (including
all amendments to those reports). In providing forward-looking
statements, MGM National Harbor is not undertaking any duty or
obligation to update these statements publicly as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except as required by
law.
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SOURCE MGM Resorts International