Ohio casinos will mean new business for companies in the state

Ohio voters forever changed their economic destiny in November 2009. Their “yes” vote on Issue 3 approved future legalized casino gaming in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo.

The Ohio Jobs and Growth Committee, chaired by former Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken and joined by numerous prominent Ohio luminaries, spearheaded the campaign. The committee’s goal was to create thousands of permanent jobs and recapture millions in lost revenues. Ohioans have patronized casinos in neighboring Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Indiana, Michigan, New York and Canada for years, spending an estimated $1 billion annually.

The group stressed two key incentives, jobs and tax revenues. The group estimates the four gaming sites will create 20,000 construction, manufacturing and casino operation jobs statewide. A 33 percent gross revenues tax will allocate specific funding to all 88 Ohio counties.

The Ohio treasury will immediately benefit since Issue 3 mandates each licensee pay the state an initial $250 million facility investment fee. They must also commit another $50 million for state job training purposes.

A flood of out-of-state companies, hoping to capitalize on economic opportunities, will surely converge on Ohio. Other jurisdictions have required their casinos to use in-state labor and products. Those laws have targeted gaming as an economic engine for those local companies already headquartered and doing business in those jurisdictions.

Gasser Chair Company is a perfect example of an Ohio company that should benefit from the “yes” vote on Issue 3. Based in Liberty Township, just outside of Youngstown since 1946, family-owned Gasser Chair Company, Inc. has been a proud member of the state’s corporate community. Today, Gasser Chair employs 125 hard working Ohioans and manufactures 100 percent of its product line in its two manufacturing locations within Ohio.

Gasser Chair is the only Ohio manufacturer of casino seating and has supplied seating solutions for prestigious venues such as the new Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, several Four Seasons and Hilton hotels, plus many privately-owned restaurants and country clubs.

As suppliers are selected for these casinos, the leadership and staff of Gasser Chair Company, Inc. hope their long business history as the only Ohio manufacturer of casino seating puts them in the forefront of sharing in the potential economic opportunities and helping attain the job creation goal of the Ohio Jobs and Growth Committee.

Jim Bush, Youngstown

The writer is marketing director of Gasser Chair Company, Inc.