“The Electric City takes a giant step forward today as we celebrate the beginning of this amazing investment. The $330 million Rivers Casino & Resort will not only breathe new life into a long-vacant former manufacturing site, but it will also continue our hard work to revive a beautiful upstate city.

“As the largest construction project in Upstate New York, Rivers Casino will further our revitalization efforts in Schenectady and across the entire region, creating 1,400 construction jobs and 1,200 permanent jobs along the way. And as the centerpiece of ongoing development now underway at the Mohawk Harbor site, this project will spur more economic development in surrounding communities, boost our local economy and bring new businesses to our area.

“As the construction of this amazing project continues, and the excitement grows in the Electric City, the momentum for more economic development builds, bringing Schenectady and Upstate New York to new heights.

“This is the only the start of more great things to come, and I can't think of a better way to mark the next phase in our efforts to revive Upstate New York than with the beginning of construction on the Rivers Casino right here along the beautiful Mohawk River. This is my home, and I’ll continue fighting for our families to ensure significant investments continue to be made locally in this year’s state budget to support this project.”