Borgata Bets On Massive New Training Program

ATLANTIC CITY- Local business, community and municipal leaders have joined with executives from MGM Mirage and the soon-to-be-built Borgata casino/hotel here to create an Advisory Council for the Atlantic City Jobs and Opportunities Program. The initiative has been designed to assist unemployed and underemployed Atlantic City residents by providing employment opportunities via training and job placement. It is a joint effort among Boyd Gaming Corp.- a joint-venture partner in The Borgata with MGM Mirage local businesses and educators, state and city youth and social service programs. Program participants will be able to graduate from training directly into paying jobs. “Training is the key,” said Robert Boughner, Boyd Gamings COO/CEO of The Borgata. “The Opportunities Program takes jobs and turns them into career opportunities.” Though the Advisory Council was not a contractual requirement of MGM Mirage and Boyd Gamings development of The Borgata, Kevin Sullivan, vp/project manager for the facility, maintained that this undertaking offers “a great way to introduce The Borgata to the community.” He noted that the initiative provides a chance to reach out to the local population and helps to satisfy the considerable staffing requirements of the proposed casino/hotel. “Even with this [program]in place, staffing will still be a formidable task,” Sullivan said. He pointed out that full staffing for the 40-story, 2,010-room property when it opens in the summer of 2003 will necessitate more than 3,000 employees. As agreed at the first meeting of the Advisory Council, The Borgata will ultimately be wading into the citys available labor pool for up to 2,000 of those needed workers. While participation in this endeavor will initially benefit The Borgata and its start-up staffing needs, it was explained that after the propertys opening, on-going involvement in the Atlantic City Jobs and Opportunities Program will remain a part of MGM Mirages master plan. Because the training will encompass “intensive [and]extensive job-specific education [and]basic life-style tutelage,” representatives for The Borgata envision a need for more training centers and trainers. There is expected to be much collaboration with nearby community colleges and schools. “The price-tag for our participation in this program is expected to come to some $2 million, but we are convinced that, in the long term, it will prove to be money well spent,” Sullivan said. MGM Mirage President/COO Mark Juliano will chair the Advisory Council. Joining Juliano and Sullivan are: Rev. Reginald Floyd, Allen AME Church; Gary Hill, Metropolitan Business Civic Association Community Relations; Lorenzo Langford, councilman; Bert Lopez, vp, Hispanic Alliance; Rita Mack, McDonalds franchisee; William Marsh, president, NAACP/Atlantic City Chapter; Charles Martin, vice chairman, City Planning Board; Ken Platt, director of planning, Atlantic City; and Milton Smith, (retired) local police chief.