Ohio Black Caucus Endorses Issue 3; Cites New Opportunities for Minority Business

COLUMBUS, Ohio, -- The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus
(OLBC) today announced its endorsement of State Issue 3, specifically citing
the 34,000 new Ohio jobs the four Ohio casinos would produce, the
opportunities that will be available to minority-owned businesses, and the
hundreds of millions of dollars in new tax revenue that will go to Ohio's
counties, largest cities and school districts.


"After studying the proposed constitutional amendment and meeting with
representatives of the prospective casino developers, we reached the
conclusion that this proposal offers Ohio benefits it badly needs in this very
difficult economic environment - jobs, new tax revenues for local communities
and schools, and $1 billion in guaranteed private investment that will help
revitalize our major cities," said State Rep. Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland),
president of the OLBC.


"We also recognize that minorities and minority businesses will have new
opportunities as they will have the ability to participate in the construction
and operation of the casinos and the workforce they will need once the casinos
open their doors," Rep. Williams said.


"We are convinced that Issue 3 truly is the right plan at the right time for
Ohio," Rep. Williams said. "Casinos in Ohio will keep $1 billion in our state
that currently is leaving the state when our citizens travel to other states
to visit casinos. That's Ohio money, and we need to keep it in Ohio."


The OLBC endorsement came as more and more organizations and individuals are
coming out in favor of State Issue 3.


Earlier this week, the NAACP chapters in Columbus and Cleveland joined the
Cincinnati NAACP chapter in announcing their support. Also announcing support
this week was the Ohio Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, representing 5,000
Hispanic-owned businesses throughout the state.


Issue 3 has also been endorsed by (partial list):
    --  Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson;
    --  Cleveland City Council
    --  Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory
    --  Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner
    --  Cuyahoga County Commissioners Peter Lawson Jones and Tim Hagan;
    --  The Hamilton, Butler and Clermont County Commissioners
    --  Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce
    --  The Greater Cleveland Partnership;
    --  Positively Cleveland!;
    --  The Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association;
    --  The Toledo Police Patrolmen's Association
    --  The Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association;
    --  The Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio;
    --  Ohio AFL-CIO;
    --  United Auto Workers (UAW) of Ohio
    --  Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council;
    --  The Cleveland and Toledo convention and visitors' bureaus

    --  The Firefighters' local unions in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and
        Toledo



A complete list of supporters of State Issue 3 can be found at:
http://www.yesonissue3.com/Backers/


The Ohio Jobs and Growth Plan is a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution
that authorizes one first-class casino in each of the state's four largest
cities (Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo). The plan will generate
$11 billion in economic impact during construction and the first five years of
casino operations. It will create 34,000 new jobs for Ohioans, and will
provide an estimated $651 million in tax revenues each year, with the vast
majority of the money designated for all of the state's counties, its major
cities and every public school district in the state. Annual tax revenues are
projected to increase to $772 million by 2017.


Primary backers of the proposal are:
    --  Penn National Gaming, Inc., a prominent operator of gaming facilities
        and horse racing tracks, including Raceway Park in Toledo; and

    --  Dan Gilbert, through his Rock Ventures partnership. Gilbert is
majority
        owner of the NBA Cleveland Cavaliers and operator of Quicken Loans
Arena
        in downtown Cleveland, Cleveland Clinic Courts, the Lake Erie
Monsters,
        Veritix and Fathead, as well as Chairman and Founder of Quicken Loans,
        which operates a 350-person Internet web center in downtown Cleveland.
        Gilbert, who began investing in Ohio in 2005, employs more than 2,500
        people throughout the state.



Pd. for by Ohio Jobs and Growth Committee, Bill Curlis, Treasurer, 865 Macon
Alley, Columbus OH 43206


SOURCE  Ohio Jobs and Growth Plan

Bob Tenenbaum, +1-614-573-1377, +1-614-313-2315 (cell),
btenenbaum@themilenthalgroup.com