Grand Victoria Casino

Location: Elgin
Year opened: 1994
Employees: 1117
Visitors in 2008: 2.185 million
2008 total Illinois tax revenue generated: $122.5 million
2008 local share of tax revenue: $19.1 million

Local project and charitable donations made possible by Grand Victoria Casino include:

• The Grand Victoria Casino made the extraordinary decision to commit 20 percent of its annual adjusted net operating income to programs that benefit greater Elgin, Kane County and the State of Illinois. Of that 20%, 12.5% is directed to the Grand Victoria Foundation and 7.5% is directed to the Kane County Board  
• Through December 31, 2008, Grand Victoria Casino has donated $182.8 million to the Grand Victoria Foundation, established in 1996 to provide a sustainable source of support for education, environmental and economic development programs statewide
• Through December 31, 2008,  Grand Victoria Casino has donated $109.7 million to Kane County, some of which was used for the preservation of longstanding farmland in rapidly developing county communities
• Since opening in 1994, over $49 million has been paid to the City of Elgin for property rent and $6 million has been directed to the Kane County Forest Preserve for improvements along the Fox River
• Downtown revitalization, business development and the much needed building and maintenance of city infrastructure such as roads, schools, libraries, police and fire stations, recreation centers, parks, and bike trails
• Funding to plan and build Kids Hope United/Elgin Child & Family Resource Center
• Capital expansion of the community's 24-hour emergency shelter for abused women and children
• Funding for the Marie Yearman Children's Playground at Festival Park
• Funding for out of school programs for kids, including sports and recreation, performing arts, academic enrichment and leadership development
• Funding to establish a community program that teaches adult literacy in Spanish and a local program that offers high school education classes (in Spanish) to high school dropouts
• Funding for college scholarships for African American high school graduates through the Elgin Human Relations Commission and the Black Women's Association
• Partnership with School District U-46 to improve high school student achievement.  Provides funding for after school programs at Elgin elementary schools
• Acquisition of land for open space and parks
• A multi-family housing conversion program
• Funding for The Centre, a 184,722 square-foot state-of-the-art public recreational facility that features a 1/8^th mile running/walking track, 9,600 square foot health/fitness center, indoor rock climbing area, racquetball courts, three swimming pools, gymnasium, banquet facilities and arts/crafts studios.  The Centre offers a wide variety of instructional classes, from ballroom dancing to the martial arts
• Relocation of the existing Emergency Operation Center, one component of an overall strategy to enhance the City of Elgin’s ability to respond to major emergency incidents and natural disasters.
• Expansion of Elgin’s ROPE program which provides immediate police service in distressed neighborhoods
• Historic grants to provide financial assistance and incentives for residents to improve homes in Elgin’s historic district
• Neighborhood grants to provide financial assistance and incentives for neighborhood groups and organizations to improve neighborhoods
• City funding for non-profit organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club, Elgin Recreation Center, Youth Sports Grants, Public Action to Deliver Shelter and Renz Center for Gambling Addiction, to name a few
• $18.2 million has been invested in annual neighborhood street reconstruction, including the repair and replacement of neighborhood streets and sidewalks
• Equipment replacement and land acquisition for the City of Elgin’s Fire Department
• $14 million has been invested in the City of Elgin’s new Law Enforcement Facility
• Over $9 million has been allocated for the redevelopment of the riverfront, including the construction of Festival Park and Walton Island/River Walk
• $5.3 million has been earmarked for major economic development initiatives identified in the Riverfront / Center City Master Plan
• Redevelopment of the former Gail Borden Library Site
• $10M redevelopment and expansion of the National Street Metra Station to help accommodate the growing commuter needs of new Elgin residents
• Improvements to State Street properties through the City of Elgin’s “State Street Façade Program”
• Senior citizen property tax rebate program
• GVC employees participate in the annual Holiday Toy Drive in coordination with the Community Crisis Center, to provide holiday gifts to struggling Elgin-area families.  Each year, the Grand Victoria Casino, through the Grand Victoria Foundation, donates one dollar for every toy collected in the toy drive
• GVC conducts annual employee blood drives in response to a critical blood supply shortage
• GVC employees volunteer in Habitat for Humanity’s Project Build in Elgin as part of Grand Victoria’s Social Investment Strategy

“The Grand Victoria has provided funds which have made acquisition of land for open space, the development of new parks and recreation opportunities, and the stimulation of county-wide economic development possible.  The Grand Victoria Casino is a great asset to the State of Illinois, Kane County and the City of Elgin.”

 -Elgin Mayor Ed Schock

 For more information on the Grand Victoria Casino, visit www.grandvictoriacasino.com.

Grand Victoria Foundation

Grand Victoria Casino established the Grand Victoria Foundation in 1996. Grand Victoria Casino’s voluntary commitment to devote 20 percent of its annual net operating income to fund initiatives that help turn local communities into vibrant civic hubs sets it apart from other gaming establishments in the country. Grand Victoria Foundation has been charged with carrying out this commitment, continually forming partnerships with organizations that strive to strengthen educational opportunities for children and adults, boost the economic vitality of neighborhoods, cities, and regions, and restore and preserve the health of our environment.  The Foundation’s mission is to assist communities in their efforts to pursue systemic solutions to problems in specific areas of education, economic development and the environment.

Through December 31, 2008, the Grand Victoria Casino has contributed over $182.8 million to the Foundation since the Foundation’s establishment.  In addition, an estimated $109.7 million has been disbursed to Kane County.  For more information about the Grand Victoria Foundation, visit www.grandvictoriafdn.org.