Coalition of Support for Question 7 Continues to Grow
Maryland businesses launch “9 for Seven” campaign for Maryland jobs
BALTIMORE, MD – Today business leaders representing hundreds of Maryland businesses and thousands of employees held a rally at National Harbor in support of Question 7, a ballot initiative that would bring thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions in revenue to the state. The announcement is the latest in a large and growing coalition of support for Question 7, with Maryland businesses joining labor and county officials in urging Maryland voters to vote yes on Question 7.
Individuals participating in the event include:
M.H. Jim Estepp – President and CEO, Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable
Gwen McCall – President and CEO, Prince George’s Economic Development Corporation
Matt Neitzey – Executive Director, Prince George’s County, Maryland Conference and Visitors Bureau
James Henderson – Chairman, Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce
Javier Torres – President & CEO, The Corporate Group, LLC
Mr. Torres joined eight other Maryland businesses in launching “9 for Seven,” an effort by local businesses to support the new resort casino proposed in Question 7. The companies, which will contribute to the ‘Vote for 7’ effort, include:
Wyndham
Tolin Mechanical
The Corporate Group LLC
Multicorp
Mona Electric
Metropolitan Protective Services
Grace's Mandarin
Complete Landscaping
Coastal Properties Management
“As a non-profit, nonpartisan business alliance representing some of the most prominent employers of Prince George's County, we want to see our county and our state thrive,” said Jim Estepp, President and CEO of the Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable. “A new resort casino would continue the record of success established here at National Harbor by creating thousands of jobs and drawing millions of tourists, business travelers and other guests to Maryland. At a time when we are desperately in need of new sources of revenue, we simply cannot turn our backs on this great opportunity.”
“In Prince George’s County, we are committed to promoting economic development and expanding business opportunities for our citizens here at home. The new resort casino proposed in Question 7 would do that in spades,” said Gwen McCall, President and CEO of Prince George’s Econom
ic Development Corporation. “I look forward to working with my colleagues in the business community to communicate to the people of Maryland that a vote in favor of Question 7 is a vote to bring jobs and opportunity back to our great state.”
Supporting Question 7 on the ballot this November would create 2,000 new construction jobs, 4,000 permanent jobs at the new resort casino, 4,400 additional permanent jobs associated with the development, and 1,600 new jobs from the introduction of table games at all Maryland casinos.
“The development of a world-class resort casino in Prince George’s County will attract tourists, visitors, meetings and conventions from all over the world,” said Matt Neitzey, Executive Director of Prince George’s County, Maryland Conference and Visitors Bureau. “This destination facility will bolster not only travel and tourism but also create new jobs, provide revenue to help fund education and public safety, and create an entertainment corridor with upscale amenities unlike any other in the Metropolitan Washington, DC area.”
Despite Penn National’s best efforts to mislead Maryland voters and protect its Charles Town Casino in West Virginia, the Washington Post recently wrote that the casino behind the ads is “most concerned with its own bottom line,” and the Baltimore Sun has stated that “it doesn’t have Maryland taxpayers’ interests at heart.”
“The Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce is here today to offer its unequivocal support for Question 7,” said James Henderson, Chairman of Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce, a non-profit alliance of over 900 businesses, representing 300,000 employees.“The job growth and economic development a new resort casino would bring to the region speaks directly to our mission of advancing the interest of business for a vibrant Prince George’s County. As is evidenced by their participation here today, our local businesses support Question 7, and we support them as they launch the ‘10 for Seven’ initiative.”
“As a business owner, I have first-hand experience with the type of economic opportunity a project of this magnitude would bring to Prince George’s County and the state of Maryland,” said Javier Torres, President & CEO of The Corporate Group, LLC. “A new resort casino would mean thousands of new, good-paying jobs across a broad range of industries, including construction, restaurant service, janitorial services, security and retail,among others. We urge the people of Maryland to reject the bogus claims by Penn National, whose only motive is to protect its West Virginia casino, and vote for Question 7.”