Racino builder taps nine contractors

Tutor-Perini, the general contractor for Resorts World New York (RWNY), has awarded nine bid packages to New York contractors for the construction of the new casino at Aqueduct in South Ozone Park, Resorts World officials announced Tuesday, January 4.
The announcement comes just weeks after Tutor-Perini hosted its first Minority, Women and Locally Owned Business Enterprises (MWLBE) outreach event. To date, Tutor-Perini has awarded more than $32 million to greater-New York City subcontractors, employing 400 of the more than 1,300 workers that the construction phase of Resorts World New York calls for.
“From the beginning, Resorts World New York has made it clear that hiring locally is a top priority for us,” said Michael Speller, president of RWNY. “The awarding of bid packages to these nine subcontractors speaks to our unwavering commitment to creating jobs in the community and putting local residents back to work.”
One of the bid packages was awarded to Five Star Electric Corp., an Ozone Park-based electrical contractor. Gary Segal, president of Five Star, said that he was thrilled to be a part of a project that will put so many New Yorkers back to work.
“We are very excited to see this project get under way,” said Segal. “Given the economic hardships that the people of Queens as well as all of New York are facing, it is encouraging to see this fast-tracked project that is giving so many people the opportunity to work and provide for their families. There is no doubt that the construction of RWNY will help 2011 start out in a positive direction.”
In addition to putting thousands of New Yorkers to work, the project is expected to generate more than $300 million in annual revenue for the state and will also give the city its first ever casino. Besides construction jobs, the casino will employ more than 800 workers in the entertainment, hospitality, security and food-service fields.
According to Speller, information on further bid packages and permanent employment will be announced in the coming weeks. To learn more, please visit www.rwnewyork.com.
“The firms that we have subcontracted have proven records of not only outstanding work, but of responsible hiring and employment practices,” he said. “In the coming weeks, we look forward to awarding further bid packages and solidifying a first-class workforce that will produce an outstanding facility here at Aqueduct.”