Petersburg Prepares for Casino Opening with series of Job Fairs
The City of Petersburg is gearing up for the January launch of the first phase of Live! casino Virginia with a series of community job fairs. The hiring events will take place at the Live! Recruitment Center, located in the former Pepsi warehouse at 1501 W. Washington St., beginning Thursday, November 6th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Additional job fair sessions are scheduled for November 7th (1 p.m. - 8 p.m.) and November 8th (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.). The recruitment center will be open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,for individuals wishing to complete applications in person.
The $1.4 billion casino resort project received approval from approximately 80% of Petersburg voters last year, following previous rejections in Richmond. Mayor Sam Parham hailed the project as a “transformative” one, promising “positive change to Petersburg for generations.”
Developers anticipate creating around 500 permanent positions, with over 100 roles dedicated to live table games dealers. openings will also be available across hotel operations, gaming, finance, marketing, food and beverage services, and security.
The project is projected to generate over 7,500 construction and related jobs over the next decade,contributing nearly $2.8 billion to the regional economy and $240 million in tax revenue for the city. the initial phase, opening in January, will feature a 75,000-square-foot temporary casino tent with 900 slot machines, 33 live table games, a bar, and a restaurant.
The full resort, slated for completion in 2027, will include 200 guest rooms (with 20 suites), a pool, and a fitness center. Live! Casino Virginia is a co-development between The cordish Cos. and Bruce smith Enterprise, led by Virginia native and former NFL player Bruce Smith.
“Petersburg will become a prime destination,” Smith stated at the March groundbreaking, emphasizing the project’s potential to revitalize the city.