Lawrence County to get a major economic boost

Given our steadfast opposition to gambling, especially when it is presented as an engine for economic development, we greet the announcement that Lawrence County has been chosen to be the locale for a horse-racing track and subsequently a slot machine casino with reservation.

We aren’t blind to the fact that many states have turned to casino gambling to spur job-creation and other economic activity, but we continue to share Gov. Ted Strickland’s belief that there is too high a price to pay for such activity. The lure of instant wealth exacts the highest toll from those who can least afford to lose their money.

Thus we hope that the development of the harness racing track in Mahoning Township — it would be a 20-minute drive from Youngstown — and the casino by Centaur Inc., an Indiana-based owner of hotels, motels and casinos, is bolstered by the construction of a family entertainment complex that would include a water park, hotels, restaurants, retail outlets and condominiums.

The complex has been proposed by Carmen Shick, his brother, Ken, and their sister, Kendra Tabak, on 250 acres the family will retain after it sells 250 acres to Centaur. The Shick family inherited the land from their grandfather, Carmen Ambrosia, a well-known businessman in this area.

Carmen Shick and his siblings had originally sought the racing license from the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission for a race track they had proposed building called Bedford Downs. Centaur had sought the license for a track it wanted to build in Beaver County called Valley View Downs.

The two groups waged an intense battle before the racing commission and the courts for the license, but then in July they decided to explore the possibility of a compromise.

This week it was announced that the track will be built in Lawrence County by Centaur, which is paying the Shick family and its partners $75 million for the 250 acres.

Sure bet

Given that there remains only one slots-casino license designated for a harness track, it is a sure bet that such gambling is coming to western Pennsylvania.

To be sure, Mahoning and Trumbull counties will benefit from this development, at least indirectly. Residents will have the opportunity to apply for the many jobs that will be created. Indeed, when Carmen Shick announced his bid for the harness track license several years ago, he made it a point to talk about his ties to the Mahoning Valley and of his business interests in Boardman.

He said at the time that there weren’t enough people living in Lawrence County and the immediate area to fill all the jobs that would be created by the track, the casino and the family-entertainment complex.

For construction of the track alone, Centaur anticipates 1,500 people involved in building the 250,000-square-foot facility. Once in operation, there will be 1,000 full- and part-time jobs.

Lawrence County commissioners and other government officials, business leaders and individuals involved in tourism have reason to celebrate — and to applaud the Shick family for making sure the region did not lose the project.