The general contractor for the new Aqueduct racino in South Ozone Park awarded three construction bids totaling more than $51 million to groups from Ozone Park, Resort World New York said this week.
“Queens needs revenue, and for this reason, we are fully committed to awarding construction bids to as many local businesses as possible,” Michael Speller, president of Resorts World New York, said in a prepared statement. “This casino will fill two crucial needs. Not only will Resorts World New York create a tremendous facility that will generate considerable revenue for Ozone Park, New York City and New York state, but the casino will also help revitalize and ultimately stabilize Queens’ businesses and economy.”
Speller said they have focused on hiring locally, including bringing jobs to businesses owned by minorities and women, to build what is now known as the Resorts World New York racetrack casino.
Tutor Perini, the general contractor, awarded a $25.1 million contract to WDF Inc. to provide heating, ventilation and air-conditoning work; a $19.2 million contract to Five Star Electric; and $6.8 million to WDF for plumbing.
“We are just so excited that Resorts World New York is following through on its promises to Ozone Park businesses,” said Larry Roman, chairman and CEO of WDF Inc. “At at time when Queens so desperately needs revenue, it is a blessing to have such a great project for so many of our local businesses to work on. Ozone Park is home to some of the finest construction businesses in the world, and for that reason I have no doubt that Resorts World New York is going to be a first-class facility that will benefit the entire region.”
The announcement comes about a week after Tutor Perini announced that more than one-third of their subcontractors are certified as a Minority or Women Owned Business Enterprise.
Tutor Perini has so far awarded $135 million to subcontractors in the greater New York City area.
The gaming facility at the race track, the city’s first casino slated to open its doors this summer, is expected to employ more than 900 people and generate at least $300 million in annual state revenue, according to officials with franchise operator Genting New York.
There are more than several hundred people now working at the site. The first phase of the three-stage project will include 1,600 video lottery terminals and a central bar.
