Hiring begins for more than 1,000 employees as construction continues on huge venue

With a wet winter over and spring at hand, the Snoqualmie Tribe’s Casino Snoqualmie remains on schedule for its Nov. 1 opening and is now bringing on board its huge workforce.

Hiring over 1,300 employees, the casino has about 20 of the management staff in place and will build its workforce from the top down, Tribal Administrator Matt Mattson said. Hiring is being done mainly through the casino Web site, www.casinosnoqualmie.com, through the “careers” link. The tribe is attempting to go as paperless as possible in the hiring process, Mattson said.

“We’ve had a lot of people come to the trailer, visit the site, visit and call the tribe,” Mattson said. “There’s certainly a lot of interest out there.”

The enterprise celebrated a milestone two weeks ago with a “topping-off” ceremony. Ironworkers traditionally celebrate when the last of the high steel is in place.

That means Casino Snoqualmie’s seven-story parking structure, and the main building, which stair-steps up the Valley hillside, is as tall as it’s going to get.

Mattson said that the Tribe will put in landscaping and water features along the main Casino boulevard to give guests the sense of arrival.

Casino Snoqualmie, by the numbers

• November 2008: Anticipated opening date

• More than 1,300: Number of expected new employees

• 170,000: Square footage of new casino

• More than 1,700: Number of slot machines

• 50: Number of table games to be played at the new casino

• Eight: Number of poker tables

• More than 2,000: Number of parking spaces at the new casino

• 400: Number of valet parking spaces

• 24 hours a day, 365 days a year: When the casino will be open

Casino amenities:

• 400-seat buffet

• Authentic Japanese sushi bar

• New York-style deli

• Cafe and coffee shop

• Cabaret lounge

• Walk-in cigar humidor

• Full marble slab bar

• 11,000-square-foot events center

• Multiple 42-inch plasma televisions for sporting events