Expected to open in the spring of 2017, the $500 million Ilani Casino Resort being developed by the Cowlitz Tribe and  Salishan-Mohegan near the town of La Center, Washington, is gearing up for a major hiring spree.

On Friday, representatives from the real estate development company and the tribe announced they would be taking part in the Portland Career Fair this week. The hope is to meet with enough potential employees to fill the more than 1,000 jobs at the casino. Positions will need to be filled in just about every area of the business, including dealers, food service, IT support, security, and everything in between.

According to the company, most of the casino jobs will become available after the first of the year, at which time applicants will undergo a formal review. Spokeswoman Shannon Woods indicated that the new casino’s 15 or so third-party owned and operated bars, restaurants, and retailers that are expected to open there, will do their hiring independently, as reported by The Columbian.  Currently, there are some positions at the casino such as senior wastewater plant operator and table games pit manager that are already available and are accepting applications. Meanwhile, other applications that are presently tagged as “future consideration,” will be processed for interviews early in the New Year.

Ilani’s general manager and president, Kara Fox-LaRose, said between 40 and 50 percent of the positions that will need to be filled will be gaming sector-associated. In January, Ilani will host its own dealer school. Fox-LaRose said, “What’s important to note is that if there are individuals seeking a job in the gaming environment, we are offering training to perform that particular job function,” according to the news agency.

Fox-LaRose was asked whether or not she expected employees from nearby Clark County cardrooms, which are opposed to the opening of the casino, to be among the applicants, and she reportedly said, “It remains to be seen where our employees are coming from and what percentage of our team will require that type of training,” After losing a federal appeal on July 29, the Confederated Tribes Of The Grand Ronde Community,which operates the Spirit Mountain Casino in neighboring Oregon, revealed that it plans to take its case opposing the opening of the casino to the United States Supreme Court. A formal request has yet to be filed.

At the beginning of this year, the Cowlitz tribe broke ground for Ilani just off of Interstate 5 in North Clark County and a grand opening has been scheduled for April 17, 2017. Plans for the casino include at least 100,000 square feet of gaming that will house 2,500 slots and 80 tables, 15 restaurants, retail outlets and bars.

Individuals interested in securing a position at Ilani can attend the fair, which will be held on Wednesday from 11am to 2pm at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel, located at 8235 N.E. Airport Way, Portland.