House Bill 7055 This vision of Bridgeport can happen, only if House Bill 7055 passes; that is the bill calling for an open, competitive bidding process which ensures the state receives the best deal. A two-step legislative process begins with the creation of an independent State Gaming Commission, with responsibility to keep Connecticut’s best interests first. That’s something Connecticut has never had and likely why its gaming framework hasn’t changed in two decades. Competition is sure to bring the entire state the best deal. House Bill 7055 is a major part of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council’s Legislative Agenda which calls for jobs, workforce development, and improved transportation. Jobs More than 22% of the state's total unemployment can be found in commuting distance of Bridgeport - 19,000 people are unemployed as of December 2018. No one proposal could impact those numbers more than the Bridgeport casino plan since the Bridgeport-Waterbury-New Haven Triangle has among the largest pool of potential labor in the state of Connecticut. Beyond the 2,000 temporary construction jobs the casino resort promises to employ, there’s the 2,000 full time direct people and 3,000 indirect jobs, three shifts per day, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The jobs would be in the service industry known for training and developing people to move up the economic jobs ladder of sustainable careers. In addition, the hospitality and entertainment industry are known for developing purchasing and supplier relationships to operate its businesses successfully. Specifically, integrated resort-casinos create demand for over 200 different career categories and offer best-in-class workforce benefits and healthcare. It is also expected to help the surrounding economy by way of 3,000 indirect jobs including the support of Bridgeport’s artist community. Minorities, veterans, re-entry folks, and women may have the most to gain. Workforce Development Of course, all those jobs will require workforce development. MGM Resorts say if selected they would invest more than ten million dollars in workforce development in year one. Add to that partnerships with the robust local educational institutions such as Fairfield University, University of Bridgeport, Housatonic and Gateway Community Colleges, Sacred Heart University and the many other institutions in New Haven. The local entertainment industry should have the human resources it requires. Transportation Much of the talk about rebuilding Bridgeport is regarding transportation. Whether it’s Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport, or New Haven. Some say transportation should never be a reason not to grow but rather a discussion as to how it might support growth. For the Bridgeport resort-casino concept, timing is everything. Fortunately, traveling to a resort-casino is very different from a commuter traveling during rush hour. Friday nights, Saturday afternoons and evenings are peak times for an entertainment venue. Planning will mitigate negative impacts to local communities and utilizes a range of transportation options. Other modes of transportation may include an exciting new option, a new airline proposed for Sikorsky Memorial Airport. Then of course there’s Amtrak, Metro North, the ferry, bus lines, charter buses, the thoroughfares from the North, East, and West as well as arriving pleasure boats. These options and the off-peak traveling will provide relief for Interstate 95.
Bridgeport Connecticut‘s state gaming policy hasn’t been adjusted since the 1990s. As other states have moved forward, Connecticut has stood still. Increased gaming competition might gain from updated policies that maximize potential for economic growth. The solution, Bridgeport casino proponents suggest a Bridgeport resort that will reverse the trend of declining revenue to the state. Arguably, there is no more attractive opportunity than in Southwestern Connecticut, in the state’s largest city. As the data demonstrates, Bridgeport is the ideal location for a dynamic entertainment attraction due to the market which includes 8.5 million people in New York City and 7.5 million in Long Island. That doesn’t include the affluent Fairfield County population and surrounding counties. The economic impact is estimated to include 1.4 billion dollars in total economic output. For the state the HB 7055 also requires a minimum 500 million-dollar investment and a 50 million-dollar license fee. The Reality The numbers seem to work for Connecticut and the state’s largest city when considering the Bridgeport/Fairfield County/New York market. What seems like a slamdunk to grow jobs, the real estate market, tourismdollars, the state and the region’s economy, however, is not devoid of obstacles. Politics, no doubt, will play a role as other Connecticut communities attempt to protect status quo. The idea of open bidding to see how Connecticut is best able to gain from the growing gambling industry seems a most equitable road to a prosperous economy for all corners of the state, but emotion and politics may have the day. The Bridgeport Regional Business Council Board of Directors and the Boards of its affiliated Chambers of Commerce in Bridgeport, Stratford, and Trumbull have all unanimously voted to support and fight for a fair and even-handed opportunity to bring jobs and tax base growth to the state’s largest and oft left behind city. The fight is to give the peoplewho live inour central city andher surrounding towns a real oppotunity at the vision of prosperity that we have for the Greater Bridgeport Region. Those job opportunities that will give folks a new reason to get up in the morning, work for a living wage and be a part of Connecticut’s most thought out option for our economy and quality of life.
The Vision The year is 2021 and a father on the East End of Bridgeport does what his father did in the 60s. He gets ready for work, kisses his children and leaves for the job that puts food on the table. Back then it was a job in one of the many factories that built the country’s armaments. The 2021 father is working in a new industry. He’s going to his job at the resort casino on the banks of Bridgeport Harbor. In fact, he’s one of 2,000 full time employees regularly employed at the resort and spending much of their salaries locally helping to build the economy. He leaves for work content in knowing his child’s school is better funded than it was two years prior. His wife is secure in a properly policed and safe neighborhood. Later that day a New York couple gets off the train in Bridgeport headed for a night out at the resort-casino. They are among the thousands daily who come over by air, land, and sea. Long Island tourists come off the Port Jefferson Ferry, a pleasure boater heads to the casino after eating at Boca Mediterranean at Steelpointe Harbor, and folks fly in from Florida on a new airline to the newly renovated Sikorsky Airport. The New Yorkers get on a shuttle going past Steelpointe Harbor which is buzzing with the finishing touches of construction on their residential/retail building to the right and a busy Bass Pro Shop on the left. Other visitors are taking the opportunity to watch headliners at The Bijou Theatre, Downtown Cabaret, Harbor Yard Ampitheater, Stress Factory, The Klein Memorial Auditorium and the Webster Bank Arena. Locals are excited about the added retail opportunities at the resort or just rubbing shoulders with visitors at Bridgeport Downtown restaurants or the flourishing Karaoke Bar. Also experiencing a resurgence are the long-time Bridgeport venues attracting resort-casino visitors looking for something off campus. Museums, the zoo, the beaches, and Black Rock Village have interest to those trying to soak up local culture. The new economy serves local restaurants, service stations, hotels-motels, and the marine economy which includes Boatworks next door to the resort and Captain’s Cove Marina. The ripple effect starts to impact nearby neighborhoods and downtown as housing development and values increase and people have more income for housing. An improved tax base from the eight million-dollar host fee and an increased tax base brings hope to a thriving city making all of Southwestern Connecticut an attraction for investment and growth. Even the state prospers from new out of state income. It’s more than just another casino, It’s a whole new way of life
- Frank Borres, President, American View Productions; Board Chair, Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM COMMERCIAL CASINOS TO LOCAL ECONOMIES Contributions from Commercial Casinos to Local Economies
BRIDGEPORT: A SUPERIOR LOCATION
TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE IS ALREADY IN PLACE
PROVIDING A RANGE OF BENEFITS TO AREA COMMUNITIES
TRAIN Metro-North Railroad’s 24-hour per day service connects Bridgeport to New York City, seven coastal towns in Fairfield County including Stamford to the west as well as New Haven to the east. GBT BUS Daily transit throughout the city and 10 neighboring towns. All buses are equipped to carry bicycles. FERRY The Bridgeport and Port Jefferson Steamboat Company operates three ferries with the capacity to carry 1,000 passengers connecting Long Island with Bridgeport. AIRPLANE Tweed New Haven Airport is four miles from Union Station, Metro-North Railroadand Sikorsky Memorial Airport is three miles from Bridgeport Station, Metro-North Railroad. CARS AND CHARTER BUSES Easy access to I-95, Rtes. 8 and 25, and the Merritt Parkway reduces surface road impact. Source:HowardSteinHudson (HSH), TrafficStudyDecember2018,page76
“The peak time of project trips will occur after 7:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings, after the commuter peak travel periods. During other times of the day, the number of new project trips is not expected to impact corridor travel.”
NEW YORK
MARYLAND
RHODE ISLAND
NEW JERSEY (Atlantic City)
MASSACHUSETTS*
PENNSYLVANIA
● Tax Contribution: $6.9B.Fiscal year-to-date through September 2017,revenue collections totaled the above amount ● Gross Casino Gaming Revenue: $1.2B ● How Taxes Spent: Education trust fund, local impact
● Tax Contribution:
● Tax Contribution:
● Tax Contribution:
● Tax Contribution:
● Tax Contribution:
$919M – 3.53%Increase ● Gross Casino Gaming Revenue: $2B ● How Taxes Spent: Education
$320M - 2.41%Decrease ● Gross Casino Gaming Revenue: $619.1M ● How Taxes Spent: General Fund
$75M – 75%Increase ● Gross Casino Gaming Revenue: $155M ● How Taxes Spent: Local aid, healthcare payment reform initiatives, education and community colleges, transportation infrastructure,
$240M – 4%Increase ● Gross Casino Gaming Revenue: $2.6B ● How Taxes Spent: Senior citizens, disabled, economic revitalization programs
$1.3B - 0.60%Increase ● Gross Casino Gaming Revenue: $3.2B ● How Taxes Spent: Property tax relief, economic development, tourism, horse racing industry, host local government
grants, small, minority and women-owned businesses
manufacturing initiatives, debt reduction and tourism
Source:TheAGA Survey oftheCasinoIndustry, “Stateof theStates,” 2017,2017_State_of_the_States_AGA.PDF
*Data predatesopeningofMGMSpringfield
10 REGION | GREATER BRIDGEPORT
REGION | GREATER BRIDGEPORT 11
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