By Patric Hedlund, TME

The numbers were big and persuasive when Kern County Administrator Ryan Alsop spoke about the benefits of Kern County entering into an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the Tejon Indian Tribe July 23. The proposed development of a $600 million Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on 306 acres near Mettler includes a 400-room hotel, a resort style pool, rock spa and fitness facility, 13 restaurants and bars, a Hard Rock Live Concert venue, and “the largest conference center and meeting space in Kern County,” with an RV park and other amenities.

Alsop said he estimates the project will create more than 1,000 construction jobs and, once completed, 2,000 permanent jobs with a projected $60 million annual payroll.

A local hiring provision requires that 50% of jobs be…(please see below to view full stories and photographs)

Photo captions:

Planning Director Lorelei Oviatt

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This is part of the July 26, 2019 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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