Local vendors look to cash in on casino

CINCINNATI - The new Horseshoe Casino is being billed as a full service casino expected to generate 6 million visits a year.

The $400 million facility is scheduled to open in the spring of 2013.

Almost 200 business owners came to a vendor-supplier outreach meeting Wednesday. They hope they can be a part of the new casino.

"I envision hiring a lot of people," said Herschel Willis, a business owner hoping to earn a contract with the casino.

The casino is expected to generate 1,700 new jobs, 90 percent of which they say will come from the Tri-State.

Casino developers say they're committed to hiring local businesses to supply everything from food to furniture.

"Everybody recognizes that Ceasars is a national brand, so there was a lot of concern on whether they would just source things from out of town, and that's not the case. What they'll do is balance what they need to buy nationally with a very strong and robust local buy," said Sean Rugless, president of the Greater Cincinnati African-American Chamber.

A second vendor-supplier outreach meeting will be held Thursday morning in the champions club at Great American Ballpark from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

For more information and to learn how to register go to: http://www.horseshoecincinnati.com