Your YES vote will create new jobs and benefits
county and community-wide
- Keep gaming where gaming already exists
- $300 million resort and entertainment complex
- 1,500 new local jobs
- Millions of dollars in direct-to-community revenue sharing
- Attract gaming dollars now being spent in other states
- Relief for local taxpayers; Keep services up and taxes down
- Millions of dollars in additional local spending
- New county-wide economic development
- A competitive local business environment
- The opportunity for young adults to stay and work in Washington County
Keep gaming where gaming already exists
The proposed ordinance before voters limits slots EXCLUSIVELY to Ebro Greyhound Park. A ‘Yes’ vote DOES NOT expand gaming or allow slot machines anywhere in Washington County other than Ebro Greyhound Park, where dog racing and card games already take place. And by State statute, Washington County is limited to ONE pari-mutuel facility. It only makes good sense to vote ‘Yes’ and keep slot machines where gaming already exists.
A contemporary $300 million resort will draw tourism dollars;
create new jobs
This isn’t about adding slots and a handful of jobs to Ebro Greyhound Park’s existing poker room. With the approval of voters, Ebro Greyhound Park will expand into a $300 million resort hotel and entertainment center. The expansive resort and entertainment complex will feature a 500 ROOM HOTEL, amphitheater, multiple restaurants and dining options, retail shops, family activity center, meeting rooms and conference facilities. With the world’s most beautiful beaches and an international airport little more than a 15 minute drive from Ebro, the resort is in a unique position to attract a sizable share of the 12 million vacationers visiting the area each year. The impact of this new revenue stream will be enjoyed COUNTY WIDE. This $300 million investment in our community will be an entertainment showplace, first-class employer and good neighbor that will be a source of pride for Washington County. Construction will begin in 2012 and be completed in phases over approximately 5 years or more.
Create 1,500 new direct and indirect jobs
The new resort complex at Ebro will create 1,500 OR MORE new direct and indirect jobs. Most of these jobs, 1,000 or more, are permanent jobs directly related to its hotel, restaurants, retail outlets, activities and entertainment. Another estimated 500 or more jobs will be indirectly associated with its planning, permitting, engineering, construction, and ongoing services which continue into future years. From entry level positions to administrative and management level positions, opportunities will be abundant for workers from all walks of life and levels of skill and experience. These are good jobs, many with career paths, high salaries and benefits. And, they won’t cost the county one penny in incentives. Annual salaries for full-time positions at the new resort will average approximately $38,000. Many construction related jobs, and some new gaming related jobs, will begin in 2012. Ebro Greyhound Park considers it a privilege to provide jobs here and places an emphasis on hiring Washington County workers. More local jobs equals more local spending, and that’s the key to keeping our local dollars circulating in our community.
$2 million or more each year in direct-to-community revenue sharing to improve our communities and schools
A binding legal agreement will generate new funding for our county, communities and schools which will GROW to an estimated $2 MILLION ANNUALLY with the completion of the new hotel and entertainment complex. With our communities and schools dealing with crippling shortfalls in funding for public safety, essential services and teachers, this direct-to-community revenue sharing agreement will make a meaningful, positive impact county- and community-wide. EVERY CENT of the revenue sharing funds will REMAIN LOCALLY and go directly to our county, communities and schools without passing through Tallahassee. These funds may be used to improve public safety and law enforcement, pave dirt roads, pay teachers, reduce classroom sizes and meet any number of other local needs without the hassle of bureaucratic red tape or legislative constraints. The revenue sharing funds are in addition to state and local taxes paid by Ebro Greyhound Park, which currently total about $300,000 per year. An additional 35% slot tax will be paid to the state and a portion of these tax dollars will also bring benefits to Washington County. A website will be available for residents to monitor the funds to see where the county’s share is applied. Revenue sharing could begin within the first month slot machines are in operation.
Attract gaming dollars now being spent in other states
Every year, people from Florida, and states bordering Florida, spend hundreds of millions of dollars in casinos in Mississippi and Alabama. The gaming money spent in those states help fund THEIR schools and community services. If slot machines are permitted at Ebro Greyhound Park, instead of going to other states, a large portion of these gaming and tourism dollars will come to Washington County and fund OUR schools and OUR community services.
Offer relief for local taxpayers; Keep services up and taxes down
The shared revenues and taxes generated by the new resort will ease the tax burden on Washington County property owners, who otherwise will be forced to makeup budget shortfalls. The new revenue stream created by slots at Ebro Greyhound Park could substantially reduce or eliminate the need for higher property taxes. Voting ‘Yes’ is a winner for taxpayers and windfall for Washington County.
Produce millions of dollars in additional local spending
Ebro Greyhound Park is one of the oldest and largest locally owned and operated businesses in Washington County. As a good corporate neighbor for over a half century, the owners and operators of Ebro Greyhound Park place tremendous importance on hiring Washington County residents, doing business locally and giving back to the community. Currently, the park’s local spending is $5 MILLION ANNUALLY. This will grow to $50 MILLION or more with the new resort complex alone. Millions more in local spending will be generated in the future as more hotels, restaurants and other tourism-related businesses invest in Washington County.
Stimulate new county-wide economic development
Tourism dollars are like seeds to grow our local economy. With the success of the new resort and entertainment complex, new restaurants, retail shopping, hotels, real estate development, and other tourism-related businesses will grow and flourish in the southern portion of Washington County. But the economic windfall WILL NOT be limited to just the southern part of the county. The new jobs, demand for support services and surge in local spending by businesses and workers will make a positive impact county- and community-wide.
Give our county, and one of our largest employers, the chance
to remain competitive
As a means to bolster their economies, voters in several counties are supporting slot machine initiatives. If slot machines are NOT permitted at Ebro Greyhound Park, it will be at an unfair disadvantage with competitors in other counties and markets. As a result, one of the county’s largest employers will be forced to continue CUTTING jobs, not CREATING new jobs. If Ebro Greyhound Park is at a disadvantage, so is Washington County. Voting ‘Yes’ is an opportunity for Washington County to be a leader among small counties in growing a strong local economy, instead of being left behind.
Provide young adults the opportunity to stay and work
in Washington County
Washington County has Northwest Florida’s HIGHEST unemployment rates and a limited number of good-paying, full-time jobs. Young adults are among those hit hardest by our sluggish economy and lack of employment. Without jobs, many are being FORCED TO MOVE and raise their families elsewhere. With new employment opportunities and a growing economy, our children and grandchildren will NO LONGER HAVE TO LEAVE Washington County to find good jobs. And those who live here now won’t have to travel two or three hours every day driving to and from work. They can use their hard-earned money and time for their family and future instead of putting it in the gas tank.
