Think BIG, Marion County!
Could Marion County become the site for a destination casino? After a 30-minute presentation Monday by developer Bob Knight and a 3-0 vote by Marion County Commission, it is a possibility.
Marion County Commission approved a mail-in county referendum vote that will allow registered voters to decide whether they support a destination casino.
Maybe destination casino isn't the best way to describe this project. There would be a casino. There also would be a 300-room hotel with multiple restaurants, event center, convention center, child care facility, and indoor/outdoor water park — all situated in a pleasantly landscaped 60-acre complex.
What could this do for Marion County? The same thing any privately-funded business can do for a county — provide economic growth.
This could be BIG!
We're talking about a $300 million facility that will bring in close to 2 million visitors a year — to Marion County.
We're talking about a business that will employ up to 2,500 people and pay substantially better than minimum wage. We're talking about an annual payroll of $75-$100 million.
We're talking about jobs and people to fill them, and housing and increased school enrollment.
We're talking about people spending time and money in Marion County and an enormous infusion of revenue for the county and its citizens.
Marion County Commission made the first bold step Monday by approving the referendum vote.
The next step is up to the voters. Think BIG!
— DONNA BERNHARDT
