As Casino Building Begins, Jobs Arrive

Cordish follows through on its promise to hire locals

Walking around the construction site for the Maryland Live! casino at Arundel Mills mall on Friday, Kevin Johnson pointed to a spot about 150 yards to his right.

"That's where one end of the casino is going to be," he said. Johnson, president and CEO of Hanover-based Commercial Interiors, then points to a spot about 150 yards to his left.

"That's where the other end is going to be."

At 300 yards long and 200 yards wide, with a planned seven-story parking garage, the 300,000-square-foot casino is the largest project Commercial Interiors has ever undertaken. It's also the largest minority-led construction project ever in the state, and could be the largest in the country, Johnson said.

"It's going to be huge," he said.

Commercial Interiors, the lead joint venture partner on the project, and the developer, The Cordish Co., are making efforts to get county businesses and residents involved in the project.

When completed by the end of 2012, Maryland Live! will have 4,750 slot machines and employ a projected 1,500 people.

Johnson estimates that the construction project will create about 2,500 jobs in the next year to 18 months.

Commercial Interiors already has awarded the contract for pre-formed concrete and steel work to a county firm, L.R. Wilson and Sons of Gambrills, and plans to hire more local contractors as construction continues.

"We're certainly going to try to hire as many qualified local people as we can," Johnson said.

David Cordish, chairman of the Baltimore-based Cordish Cos., said he hired Commercial Interiors because it does outstanding work and is local - like his firm. Cordish's grandfather started the company in Baltimore in 1910, and Cordish was born and raised in the city. He owns a home in Pasadena.County voters approved zoning for the casino in November. Cordish said during the campaign that job applicants from Anne Arundel County would be given preference, and last week he said he will stand by that promise.

"When we went door-to-door down there, people treated us like the home team. And we are the home team," Cordish said. "It's only fair to try to give something back."

An advantage

A Cordish subsidiary, PPE Casino Resorts Maryland, is responsible for all operations at the casino, including hiring. While PPE is going to hire the most qualified candidates, those from Anne Arundel and surrounding area will have an advantage, said Joe Weinberg, president of Cordish's gaming and resorts division.

"There is a benefit to any company's employees living close to their place of employment, and this is one of the criteria we will be evaluating as part of our hiring process," Weinberg said. "We believe proximity to the workplace is better for the environment, by reducing commuting time, and promotes involvement in the local community."

PPE intends to hold job fairs and will make it possible for applicants to research job opportunities with the casino and apply for jobs online. Job descriptions and qualifications will be posted at www.marylandlivecasino.com.

Cordish estimates that 90 percent of the jobs at the casino will be in positions such as marketing, food and beverage services, and security, among others. PPE is now finalizing timelines for the hiring process and will communicate what steps interested applicants should take via the Internet and through the media, Weinberg said.

PPE also plans to work closely with the Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corp. and Anne Arundel Community College to provide training for the project.