THE CORDISH COMPANIES AND LIVE! CASINO AWARD NEARLY $21 MILLION OF LOCAL SHARE ACCOUNT (LSA) FUNDS
HEMPFIELD TWP., Pa. (July 17, 2023) – The Cordish Companies and Live! Casino hosted a celebration event today to announce the details of the nearly $21 million of Local Share Account (LSA) grants distributed to municipalities and non-profit organizations throughout Westmoreland County since the opening of the first-class gaming and entertainment destination in November 2020.
State legislators, Westmoreland County commissioners, and Hempfield Township representatives were joined by dozens of grant recipients and local community leaders to celebrate the community investments all targeted to improve the quality of life in Westmoreland County. Funds have been used for a wide variety of needs, including police and fire department equipment, nonprofit projects, road resurfacing, bridge reconstruction, playground and park improvements, stormwater upgrades, and more.
“Today’s event signifies the importance of casinos and their far-reaching tax benefits and overall economic impact,” said PA State Senator Kim Ward. “Live! Casino has been a genuine community partner and I appreciate their continued commitment and contributions to Westmoreland County and its residents.”
“We knew from the beginning that this was going to be a huge benefit for Westmoreland County, and I am glad to see it happening,” said Pennsylvania State Representative George Dunbar. “Otherwise, these projects, funded by Live! Casino revenue would either be on the shoulders of taxpayers, or they wouldn’t happen at all. Instead, revenue generated right here in Westmoreland, is used for community projects right here in Westmoreland.”
The nearly $21 million in LSA grant proceeds is derived from three distinct funds –
Local Share Account Statewide - $12,928,220; Local Share Account Category 4 Facilities Program (Westmoreland County) - $4,021,881; and an additional $4,021,881 distributed to Hempfield Township, as the host municipality of the entertainment facility. Both the Statewide and Category 4 Facilities Program LSA’s are authorized and coordinated through the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA). Details on guidelines, eligibility and funding are included in the supplemental fact sheets.
The LSA proceeds from Live! Casino for fiscal years 2021 and 2022 were distributed to 38 local municipalities and organizations and served as a major investment for 77 projects throughout Westmoreland County. Individual grants ranged from $2,850 through $1,000,000.
A completed listing for the Statewide and Category 4 Facilities Program LSA’s is detailed in the supplemental fact sheets.
“The casino opening in Hempfield Township has been a true blessing,” said Douglas Weimer, vice chair of the Hempfield Township Board of Supervisors. “Their presence and contributions have not only allowed us to reverse and improve the economy around the mall, but also enhance community resources and services for all our residents.”
“Municipalities like ours are always struggling to maintain infrastructure and fulfill the needs of our residents,” said Shari Martino, manager of Irwin Borough. “The tax contributions from Live! Casino have been used on significant infrastructure projects that would otherwise go unfunded.”
From an overall economic impact standpoint, the Live! Casino facility has generated nearly $519 million in investments to the economy since opening in 2020 (Nov. 2020 – June 2023). A sampling of this investment includes $40 million in licensing fees, $100 million in construction costs and jobs, $5.1 million in local taxes to Hempfield Township, more than $123 million to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue in gaming taxes, nearly $55 million in employee compensation and benefits, $38 million in goods and services, and $243,000 in charitable contributions from Live! Casino’s Giveback Box program. Beyond investments and donations, jackpot winnings by customers totaled more than $156 million in payouts.
“Nothing makes The Cordish Companies prouder than playing an important role in supporting and enhancing the communities in our area,” said Joe Weinberg, managing partner, The Cordish Companies. “We appreciate our team members, the elected officials and local organizations for their leadership and commitment to building a stronger Westmoreland County through our continued partnership.”
"Making a positive impact on our entire community has always been a priority for Live! Casino," said Sean Sullivan, general manager of Live! Casino. "While today's celebration of these grants is a significant investment, we also remain committed to the community by supporting local families with employment opportunities and to local charities through volunteering and donations."
About Live! Casino Pittsburgh
Live! Casino Pittsburgh is a $150 million
first-class gaming and entertainment destination located in Hempfield Township,
Westmoreland County, PA, approximately 30 miles from downtown Pittsburgh.
Conveniently situated directly off Route 30 at the popular Westmoreland Mall,
the 100,000-square-foot facility features 750 slots and approximately 40 live
action table games; a designated poker room; a FanDuel Sportsbook; and The
Venue Live!, a 7,000+ square-foot multi-use event space. Dining and
entertainment options include Sports & Social Steel City - voted Best
Sports Bar in PA by Casino Player Magazine, it’s a one-of-a-kind sports
restaurant, gaming venue and social lounge, offering guests the ultimate sports
fan experience; PBR Pittsburgh - voted Best Bar in PA, bringing an authentic
country experience to the region; and Guy Fieri's American Kitchen + Bar. Live!
Casino is operated by Stadium Casino Westmoreland RE, LLC, an affiliate of The
Cordish Companies, the premier developer of Live! dining, entertainment,
gaming, hotel and sports-anchored destinations in the country. Visit Pittsburgh.livecasinohotel.com. For job
opportunities, visit WorkatLive.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram -
@livecasinopittsburgh / Twitter - @livecasinoPGH
For Further Information:
Doug Haniford
Live! Casino
(412) 760-2291
doug.haniford@livech.com
Tom Meinert
Meinert/Mashek Communications
(412) 427-5762
tom@mm-comm.com