WASHINGTON — MGM Resorts committed to local hiring goals when it embarked on its $1.4 billion National Harbor casino, both for construction jobs and permanent jobs, and it says it has exceeded those goals.
In a briefing to Prince George’s County Council members Tuesday, MGM said it spent 26 percent of its construction budget with county-based businesses, and 17 percent of its construction budget with county-based minority-owned businesses.
MGM also said it hired 1.1 million hours of work — 27 percent of the 4 million in total construction work hours on the project — with Prince George’s County residents, also exceeding the community benefits agreement negotiated between MGM and Prince George’s County.
Prince George’s County said the construction spending was verified by K.E. Timmons, Esq., CPA LLC.
Construction work on the casino included more than 1,900 Prince George’s County residents.
“The MGM National Harbor project, in conjunction with the Community Benefits Agreement that the County required, has created opportunity for local businesses and local hiring at levels unprecedented in our County’s history of private development, said Prince George’s County Council member Mel Franklin in a statement.
“Just as we hold developers accountable when they fall short of their commitments, we must also give credit where credit is due when companies exceed our expectations,” he said.
The 1 million-square-foot casino and resort, which opened in December employs 4,000 direct permanent full-time jobs.
MGM’s preliminary report on permanent jobs says 47 percent of them have gone to Prince George’s County residents, surpassing the community agreement commitment of 40 percent.
