Even though Wild Rose Jefferson won’t be open for another eight months, the local non-profit gaming license holder wants to get public input about how they should distribute an estimated $1.2 million to worthy causes and projects in the county.
Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation will be hosting a series of town hall meetings in January for the public to attend to give their suggestions of how they would like to see those funds spent.
GGCGC will receive up to 5% of the adjusted gross revenue from Wild Rose Jefferson which is an estimated $1.5 million per year. Up to 20% of that $1.5 million, about $300,000, will be eligible to the six contiguous counties around Greene County. The leftover amount will be kept in Greene County for worthy projects.
GGCGC President Norm Fandel says groups like municipalities, school districts, economic development organizations, Greene County Community Foundation and other non-profit civic and charitable entities will all be considered for grants.
The six town hall meetings are scheduled for Sunday, January 11th at 4:30pm at the community center in Scranton and 6pm at the ISU Extension office in Jefferson. On Thursday, January 15th will be two more meeting at 6pm at the William Paton Library in Paton and at the community building in Churdan at 7:30pm. The last two will be on Monday, January 19th at 6pm at the community building and library in Rippey and at 7:30pm at St. Brigid’s Parish Center in Grand Junction.
Each town hall meeting will include a brief summary of how GGCGC operates and they will show drawings of how the casino looks inside and out.
Funds won’t be available until the spring of 2016 and the total amount of the adjusted gross revenue for Wild Rose Jefferson is projected to be at $30 million per year.
Board members of Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation are president Norm Fandel of Jefferson, vice president Craig Marquardt of Paton, secretary Peg Raney of Jefferson, treasurer Bob Allen of Churdan, and Lori Mannel of Scranton, Rick Morain of Jefferson, Brenda Muir of Rippey, and Kate Neese of Grand Junction. Mike Mumma of Jefferson is the organization’s attorney.