On the heels of the April 5, groundbreaking ceremony for the billion dollar First Light Resort & Casino, on Saturday, May 14, 2016, the City of Taunton and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Gaming Authority will host a job and vendor fair.

According to the information release, the event will be held from 11 to 4pm at the Holiday Inn in Taunton, Massachusetts located at 77 Myles Standish Blvd. Information will be provided to prospective employees, sales and marketing representatives, local businesses, as well as owners and operators who are interested in supplying the First Light Resort & Casino with goods and services.

A portion of the destination resort casino is on schedule to be opened for business by summer of next year and will reportedly generate as many as 1,000 construction jobs and upon completion more than 2,600 permanent jobs.

Cedric Cromwell, the chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council and president of the tribe’s Gaming Authority said, “A development of this magnitude will generate hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity that will be a boon to Tribal citizens, area residents, and businesses across southeastern Massachusetts,” according to the release. He said, “We are working closely with our Tribe’s employment office and local union officials. With thousands of jobs being created, there will be an abundance of opportunities for good paying work in the building and operation of First Light Resort & Casino. There will also be a need for vendor services.” Cromwell added, “This job and vendor fair will begin the process of putting the right people in the right place to benefit from a first-class project.”

Taunton Mayor Thomas Hoye said, “One of my top priorities has been to help bring economic revitalization to our great city. First Light Resort & Casino is going to do just that. It is bringing thousands of jobs and millions in additional revenue for the City to spend on vital services,” and, “The spin-off benefits for Taunton area businesses will be enormous as well. This is an exciting moment for us.”

Cromwell and Hoye, along with tribal leaders, state and local officials, and hundreds of Taunton residents and tribal citizens joined together to celebrate the beginning of construction at the groundbreaking ceremony last month. Steady demolition work combined with $30 million in improvements to off-site traffic, are clearing the way for construction of the first destination resort casino in the state.

Late last month, in a 4 to 1 vote, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission denied a $677 million commercial casino proposal for the Brockton Fairgrounds, giving the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe full exclusivity for Class 3 Gaming in Region C.

Upon completion, the First Light Resort & Casino will include 3,000 slot machines, 40 poker tables, 15 table games, a food court with an international buffet, as well as fine dining restaurants, 24- hour café, and a three-story luxury hotel with 300 rooms, and many amenities.

Individuals interested in attending the job and vendor fair are being asked to RSVP Melissa Hill at MHill@mwtribe.com.