SCCC Trustees to back Schenectady casino

PHOTOGRAPHER: Haley Viccaro

The Schenectady County Community College Board of Trustees will vote on a resolution of support for a casino in Schenectady during their meeting Monday evening.

SCCC plans to back Galesi Group’s proposal to build a $300 million casino with Rush Street Gaming of Chicago as part of a $450 million revitalization of the former ALCO site between Erie Boulevard and State Street.

The college, located about a mile from the proposed site, is expected to benefit from the development of a full-scale casino after launching its casino and gaming management program last fall.

According to the operator, Rivers Casino at Mohawk Harbor would create 1,200 permanent jobs and generate $5.7 million for both the city and county. Those jobs would provide employment opportunities for SCCC graduates looking to stay local.

The SCCC board vote comes after the Schenectady City Council voted 5-2 to support a casino. The council also decided that its share of the revenue would be used to lower property taxes for homeowners.

Applications for a casino are due by June 30. Other sites in the Capital Region including Amsterdam, Cobleskill, East Greenbush and Rensselaer are also vying for a casino license.

The backers of a proposed casino in Amsterdam, Clairvest and Great Canadian Gaming, will unveil their plans for a casino in Montgomery County during the Florida Town Board meeting tonight.