While Cordish Companies and Bruce Smith Enterprise have ticked many boxes en route to breaking ground on a new casino complex in Petersburg, they still need to persuade voters to approve the ballot measure this November.
To that end, the partners announced last week that Ja’Scotta Jefferson and Preston A. Page, two political organizers, will serve as co-campaign managers. The voter drive is officially titled the Vote Yes! Live! Casino Resort Referendum Campaign.
According to a spokesperson for the partners, the campaign to approve the fourth Virginia casino officially opened its office on Thursday in Petersburg and have launched a website.
Campaign managers tout project’s benefits, open downtown office
Jefferson and Page told PlayVirginia via email,
“We are excited to officially open our Petersburg campaign office this week. The office’s central location downtown will give us a lot of opportunities to engage directly with residents who can come in to meet with us and get campaign materials. … [We] want every resident of Petersburg, young and old, to understand how this project will create thousands of valuable new jobs and support critical programs such as education, workforce development, infrastructure, [and] public safety, as well as parks and recreation, and youth and senior programs. This is not just a casino, but a world-class mixed-use resort destination that will significantly benefit city residents for generations.”
In a press release, Pro Football Hall of Famer Bruce Smith, the CEO and namesake of Bruce Smith Enterprise, said of the duo, “Their experience, expertise, and understanding of the needs of the city of Petersburg and community is a win for everybody. Working with community leaders, business owners, local advocates, and the community at large, they will help carry this shared vision of economic growth, job creation, and important investments to the city of Petersburg.”
Both organizers are Virginia State University graduates, adding a local connection to the mix, and both have been active in state politics.
Jefferson, an experienced field organizer, was most recently director of voter protection for the Democratic Party of Virginia. Page, brought in for his communications acumen, most recently served as director of logistics for the North Carolina NAACP and has overseen several high-profile advocacy efforts across the region.
Jefferson said in the partners’ press release, “I’m excited to be a part of this historic opportunity for Petersburg and look forward to connecting with residents in their neighborhoods, at community events, and anywhere the people of Petersburg love to enjoy what makes this city so special. Petersburg is a hidden gem; it’s time to let it shine!”
Page added, “Bringing this casino resort project to Petersburg is more than entertainment — it’s an opportunity to boost our local economy, create sustainable jobs, and generate much-needed revenue for community projects and services. For too long, Petersburg has been overlooked by major economic development projects.”
Casino project expected to create $2.8B in economic stimulus, 7,500 jobs
The developers have a website that includes renderings of the Live! Casino and Hotel Virginia.
The site emphasizes key numbers the campaign will use to persuade voters, including the generation of $2.8 billion in economic stimulus for the region, plus $504 million in tax revenues, with $240 million going to Petersburg.
The project also promises more than 7,500 new temporary and permanent jobs, including 6,000 construction jobs and 1,500 living-wage jobs with an average annual compensation of $70,000.
Casino proponents are hoping Petersburg’s bid fares better than neighboring Richmond‘s. Residents in the state capital twice rejected a casino ballot measure, the first by a narrow margin in 2021 and the second by a more substantial margin in 2023.
