The plan to build a gambling casino in Prince George’s County could be an economic bonanza for neighboring Charles County, local officials reported. During a Wednesday, April 3 presentation before the Charles County Commissioners, estimates culled from county government staff research showed local residents seeking work and the jurisdiction’s expanding airport stand to reap the biggest benefits from the fledgling gaming location.
“We found some really good things,” said Charles County Economic Development Director Kwasi Holman of the research done on the potential impact on the county when the $800 million MGM Casino Building opens at National Harbor.
In a memo to the commissioners, Holman cited data from Office of Regional Aviation Assistance Director Ashish Solanski, who estimated the Prince George’s casino could “quite reasonably quadruple annual transient flight activity at Maryland Airport from 12,000 operational flights to 48,000 annually, yielding a 4 percent overall increase.”
Solanski also predicted an increase in demand private charter flights due to the presence of the casino, which could mean an estimated 100,000 visitors in Charles County annually, over a five-year projection.
Maryland Airport, which is privately owned and publicly used, is currently undergoing a $15 million expansion funded by the Federal Aviation Administration and the State of Maryland. The project will add a 3,000-foot paved runway at the facility, which is located in the Indian Head area.
Solanski reported the airport’s expansion and trafficking increases will mean a big boost in fuel sales, which will increase the amount of taxes paid to Charles County.
Holman noted in his memo the National Harbor project includes 2,000 construction jobs and when finished will create 4,000 permanent jobs.
Citing data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Holman reported Charles County residents represent about 5 percent of the Prince George’s Job market. An estimated 300 of those 6,000 casino jobs could go to Charles residents. According to the National Gambling Impact Study, the “multiplier effect” could help create approximately 1,500 additional jobs in surrounding jurisdictions.
“We hope some [Charles] County residents are able to secure jobs,” said Holman, who admitted a majority of the hospitality-related jobs are low wage but the casino-related employment is high-waged and unionized with excellent benefits.
–>
