Guest column

  The opening of the Hollywood Casino Friday, Feb. 3, will offer many opportunities to West Wyandotte County businesses and residents. Here are a couple of samples I have learned of in the past few days. 

   An owner of a small business, an immigrant who recently became an American citizen, is pleased that he is able to expand his service business by taking care of cleaning needs at the casino. 

   A young man will become a server in one of the casino’s restaurants; his grandmother is quite proud that her grandson will be moving up to a better job. 

   The casino will employ more than 1,000 people in a community that has more than its share of unemployed. Jobs are always important—particularly in a recovering economy. 

   Wyandotte County, like many areas in Kansas and elsewhere in the United States, has lost value of its commercial and residential real estate. The boost from the casino is most welcome in a down time. The appraised value of the casino, according to the Unified Government’s website, is more than $34.3 million; annual property taxes for 2011 were more than $1.5 million. With this broader tax base, local government will be less dependent on residential and small business owners for property tax revenue. 

   In addition, the special gaming tax will help the Unified Government along with the cities of Bonner Springs and Edwardsville. Estimates are that it will enrich the city and county coffers during 2012 by at least $4.5 million. 

   In a few years, the casino plans to open a hotel and convention center. Although West Wyandotte County has several fine smaller and medium-sized hotels, it lacks a larger hotel that could attract state and regional conventions. That will also mean additional tax base and property tax revenue. 

   For the past several years, West Wyandotte County has seen various proposals for casino gambling including those that Indian tribes and The Woodlands pari-mutuel tracks offered. They all failed until the Kansas Legislature approved and then Gov. Kathleen Sebelius approved laws in which the state of Kansas owns the games. There are also similar casinos in Dodge City and Mulvane. 

   The addition of the casino is another major attraction that makes West Wyandotte County a regional tourist attraction by complementing the shopping at Village West and major-league racing at the Kansas Speedway. 

Murrel Bland is executive director of Business West.