Eller: “… grow the expectations…”
ROCK HILL –Empire Resorts Inc. CEO Ryan Eller, developer of the Resorts World Casino and Resort, five months away from opening in Sullivan County, gave the Sullivan County Partnership an encouraging message, promising continued investment, at their annual dinner Thursday evening.
Eller shared his vision of the resort/casino for the first time with the partnership and said the idea is to create an integrated resort, one that will utilize the local markets, provide jobs and encourage the multiplier effect by being focused on the widest range of demographics, but most importantly, job creation.
“In particular here because of the scope of the undertaking, because of the size of the development, not only do we have thousands of operational jobs, but we are continuing to construct and build and invest,” said Eller. “Which means, with that, there is also this continuing activity which we continue to grow our employment base, we grow the expectations for what people will see, but there is also the spending that we’re going to have in the market.”
Sullivan County Partnership President Marc Baez said, although the casino/resort
is still about a half-year away from opening its doors, they have already
had massive inquiries, and economic growth, within the county due to its
decision to be located there.
“We’re already seeing new influx and new commerce because of what they’re doing and it hasn’t even opened yet,” said Baez. “Just this week alone, we had four inquires on people that want to be here, buy properties that were former hotel properties, others that want to bring their manufacturing here, as I mentioned tonight is something that we’re using to diversify the economy; so, the interest is here and when I said this is where the action is going to be in the next decade, I really meant it. I can feel it. I know it’s coming.”
Having someone like Eller share such a strong vision for their county and its economic development was a huge reassurance, Baez said, and they are looking forward to see what’s to come for the future of Sullivan after the 2018 casino/resort opening.
