Officials with Empire Resorts Inc., the Ulster, Sullivan, Delaware and Green Counties Building and Construction Trade Council and the Fluor Corp. report that a PLA has been signed for the Cayuga Catskill Resort, a proposed Native American casino to be located on 30 acres of land adjacent to the Monticello Raceway in Sullivan County. Empire Resorts serves as the Cayuga Nation's development and management partner. Fluor Corp. is the construction manager for the venture. Fluor is also the construction manager for Empire Resort's Phase 1 gaming project--Mighty M Gaming at Monticello Raceway, which when completed will feature 1,800 video lottery terminals. The $24-million Mighty M Gaming project is currently under construction and is scheduled to be completed by June 30.

Cayuga Nation spokesman Timothy Twoguns says of the PLA agreement on the casino project, "We are pleased that this PLA has been signed today so that when final approvals are received, construction on the Cayuga Catskill Resort will not be delayed."

Applications for the planned casino filed by the Cayuga Nation are currently awaiting approval by the Secretary of the Interior and the National Indian Gaming Commission. The Cayugas also must reach an agreement on the casino with Gov. George Pataki and enter into a land compact with the state.

Empire Resorts officials refused to predict when construction might begin on the casino project that will entail 600,000 sf of gaming floor area. The casino will create approximately 1,500 construction jobs and 3,000 jobs at the facility once in operation, according to company estimates.

Empire Resorts' president Morad Tahbaz says of the PLA deal, "As the Nation's development and management partner, it's an advantage for us to have this in place at the earliest possible opportunity."

Hank Bunce, president of the Ulster, Sullivan, Delaware and Green Counties Building and Construction Trade Council notes, "The PLA means qualified local contractors will be on the job and their union employees will be working for decent wages and good benefits."

The Building and Construction Trades Council, which represents 15,000 members who work in 19 local trade unions, has approximately 150 union members currently working on the Video Lottery Terminals facility at the racetrack. Empire Resorts officials note that the Mighty M Gaming facility will also include a 350-seat buffet, a 75-seat show lounge and a gaming floor of approximately 86,000 sf. Construction on that project began earlier this year.

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Catskills Casino Partners Reach Agreement with Union Trades

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