Nearly half of all those who attended a recent hiring fair at Tioga Downs left the event with a new job. Of the 155 people who came out to seek employment, Tioga Downs hired 73 of them to fill various positions. Several additional jobs still need to be filled.
As part of Tioga Downs’ continued commitment to putting veterans to work, members of the military were invited to attend the job fair one hour before it opened. A number of those veterans were hired on the spot that day.
“We are so pleased that this job fair was so successful,” said Jeff Gural, owner of Tioga Downs. “We filled the vast majority of our open positions, and we were able to put a considerable number of community members back to work. We are deeply committed to our veterans, and we are delighted to welcome several members of our military to our team.”
There are more than a dozen positions available in areas such as security and food and beverage. An all-day security certification training class will be held April 12 and 24. Participants do not need to be seeking employment with Tioga Downs in order to take the class, and those who complete the training will receive a New York State security certification. For more information or to register, email John Mele at jmele@tiogadowns.com. Tuition is $100 per person with a maximum class size of 25. Successful completion of the course does not guarantee employment at Tioga Downs.
Those interested in any position can apply online at www.tiogadowns.com/careers. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, and a high school diploma or GED is required to be eligible for employment.
A number of seasonal jobs must be filled each spring in anticipation of harness racing season, which begins May 2 at Tioga Downs. The racing debut coincides with the popular Kentucky Derby, which will be simulcast at Tioga Downs that afternoon. Live local harness racing kicks off later that evening.
“We are definitely gearing up for another exciting season of racing and special events,” said Gural, who added that Tioga Downs is still in need of some additional workers to fulfill their staffing needs.
In addition to live harness racing, Tioga Downs offers video lottery terminals, video poker and electronic roulette. A variety of eateries are also part of the entertainment complex.
Jeff Gural owns Tioga Downs in Nichols, N.Y. and Vernon Downs in Vernon, N.Y. Gural is in the process of preparing a new proposal to apply for the state’s final full gaming license. Once awarded, Tioga Downs will expand its facility and workforce to accommodate live casino gaming. In the last decade, Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs have created more than 700 family-sustaining jobs.
For more information on Tioga Downs, visit www.tiogadowns.com.
