Women seek casino investment money

Tuesday, March 16, 1999 | 11:53 a.m.

Casino developers -- including MGM Grand and Circus Circus Enterprises of Las Vegas -- have agreed to award contracts for at least 30 percent of the contract dollars to minority-owned, Detroit-based and female-owned firms.

Beverly Smith is an NBD Bank executive who leads the Majority Business Initiative that is working to ensure women get a fair share of casino development money. The group's name is derived from women making up a majority of the U.S. population, the Detroit Free Press reported.

"There has been a lack of involvement for women," said Smith.

The Free Press quoted her as saying the city "is in such a push to get the facilities up and ready, and they're not monitoring the participation of the goals and objectives set."

The city is now putting together a panel to ensure casino developers meet their vendor-hiring goals, the Free Press reported.

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