The Advance West Central Indiana Political Action Committee (PAC) released information today from a new study - Indiana Statewide Gaming Market Assessment and Economic Impact Analysis - conducted by The Innovation Group on behalf of the Casino Association of Indiana. The study provides data regarding the potential economic impact of a casino in Terre Haute, Vigo County. A section of this study is specific to a Terre Haute casino and provides a clearer outlook on the impact a casino would have on the community.
 
“As we have seen all across our state and as this study serves as further proof, casinos are a strong engine for economic development and growth in communities,” states Matt Bell, President of the Casino Association of Indiana. “A casino in Terre Haute creates hundreds of jobs … and in fact, generates tens of millions of dollars in economic benefit to Vigo County. We are so excited Terre Haute has this special opportunity to kick its economic engine into hire gear.”

​According to the new study, a casino in Terre Haute will create approximately 650 full-time jobs and 140 part-time casino jobs with labor income totaling more than $26M and a $34M impact to the community in terms of wages, benefits and taxes.
 
“This study confirms that bringing a casino to Terre Haute will have a strong economic impact for our economy with over $30 million in payroll to our community by a private investor and over $100 million in construction by a private investor,” states Senator Jon Ford. “It’s been a long time since we have had this kind of opportunity here in Terre Haute.” 
Additionally, the new study predicts that ongoing operation of a casino in Terre Haute will support nearly 1,300 jobs in the community and $168M in impact to the local economy.The study also estimates that the construction project alone would have a nearly $80M total impact on the local economy.

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Vigo County residents had the chance to get familiar with the voting process Friday.

The county clerk’s office partnered with the Vigo County Public Library to hold a mock election that allowed participants to walk through the entire process.
Information about polling locations and voter registration was also available. 

County Clerk Brad Newman explained the event was beneficial for both voters and poll workers:

“This does two things,” County Clerk Brad Newman explained. “Number one, it gives our people better feed back of how we should set the room up, the improvements we can make, how we can do it, how long it takes an average person to vote, so were going to know about staffing and things like that; but it also gives the voter an opportunity to get more familiar with the equipment, understand the process, and educates them along the way and in doing so hopefully it encourages them to vote.
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County residents are reminded they will have the opportunity for vote on the casino referendum and school referendum during the municipal election to be held Nov. 5.

Watch full video.

wfyi-Indianapolis

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) — A group has started a campaign aimed at building voter support for allowing western Indiana's first casino in Terre Haute.

The Advance West Central Indiana political action committee is holding public forums ahead of Vigo County voters deciding the casino issue in the November election.

The (Terre Haute) Tribune-Star reports group chairman John Collett says he expects the project would mean around 150 construction jobs and perhaps 400 new jobs related to the casino. He says the casino could mean $7 million or more a year in tax revenue to local government and schools.

Two casino companies have expressed interest in the Terre Haute project. They have until Dec. 1 to submit proposals to the Indiana Gaming Commission, which would select an operator for the license.

It was a great turnout at both community forums with many supporters attending, great questions asked and helpful comments offered:

• Pro-casino PAC holds its first public forum (TribStar)
• 'Vote yes on #1,' a push to get voters to vote for the casino referendum (WTHI)
• Advance West Central Indiana PAC hosts public casino forum (WTWO)

If you support Vote Yes on #1, please remember to exercise that support by voting on November 5th!

Advance West Central Indiana PAC launches website and fundraising effort to support Question 1 on the November 5th General Election ballot
 
TERRE HAUTE, IN – Members of the local business community have formed a political action committee (PAC) to advance a “Vote Yes” campaign for the casino referendum that will appear on the November 5th general election ballot. The PAC members include Chair John Collett, Treasurer Sara Smith and Co-Chair Brian Kooistra. The mission of the PAC is to inform and mobilize voters based on the economic benefits of opening a casino in Vigo County.

Vigo County Clerk Brad Newman announced last week that the language designated by state legislation, “Shall inland casino gambling be permitted in Vigo County?,” will appear as Question 1 on ballots countywide. This will essentially be a special election for voters who live outside municipalities and typically do not have a voting role in municipal election cycles. Additional voting centers will be available to make it easier for voters to participate in the election.

The Advance West Central Indiana PAC launched a website, www.CasinoTerreHaute.com, to encourage members of the community to learn about and support the referendum campaign. The website allows supporters to sign up for yard signs, register to volunteer and donate to the campaign efforts. It also showcases the overall economic benefits a casino can bring to Terre Haute and the region. The benefits include up to 400 new jobs and a variety of gaming and tourism revenue streams which will support additional economic development, infrastructure improvements and enhanced quality of life projects within the community.

“I wanted to do something meaningful for the people I have the opportunity to work with every day. Projects of this magnitude not only offer full-time positions but also elevate the trades in our community, offering work in our backyard. This campaign is more than a casino to me. It’s helping Terre Haute and the region grow in a way that lifts everyone,” said Advance West Central Indiana PAC Chair John Collett.

“The campaign is based on three major themes,” stated PAC Treasurer Sara Smith. “It’s about educating the voter base, helping them understand the short term and long term benefits a casino can bring to a community and impacting positive change for the future. This is our opportunity to attract critical resources to strengthen the entire community.”

PAC Secretary Brian Kooistra concluded, “The fact that we had to battle other casino communities so hard at the statehouse in order for us to bring a casino to Terre Haute was incredibly telling – casinos are an important asset that communities will fight vigorously to protect. It was clear those casinos were a valuable resource for their local communities. I want that for Terre Haute too.”
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PAC members encourage Vigo County residents to visit casinoterrehaute.com and sign up to support the campaign.