Support Piles Up for ONE Casino + Resort

Highlighted by Recent Endorsements from Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and Former Governor Terry McAuliffe

NAACP; Richmond Crusade for Voters; Richmond Highway Neighborhood Civic Association Among Host of Groups Backing Casino Referendum

RICHMOND, VA – October 25, 2021 – Major business and tourism organizations and individuals are increasingly showing support for ONE Casino + Resort by formally endorsing the project, encouraging others to vote “yes” for the casino referendum or sharing they have voted “yes” during early voting.

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam stated, “I’m voting yes for One Casino + Resort because this project will provide economic opportunity and 4,500 jobs for some of our most underserved communities as well as bringing the city and state much needed revenue for schools, roads, and more!”

Former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe stated, “This project will bring jobs for Richmonders and $50 million a year that’s going to help build schools, increase teacher pay, and improve the quality of life for everyone in the city. Let’s take Richmond to the next level – let’s vote Yes for One Casino + Resort!”

Other current and former elected leaders who have indicated support for ONE include the following:

• Voted YES: Former Virginia Secretary of Education Anne Holton

• Voting YES and encouraging Richmond residents to also vote YES:
  • Virginia Delegate Jeff Bourne
  • Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney
  • Richmond City Council members:
    • Andreas Addison (1^st District)
    • Ann-Frances Lambert (3^rd District)
    • Kristen Larson (4^th District)
    • Stephanie Lynch (5^th District)
    • Ellen Robertson (6^th District)
    • Cynthia Newbille (7^th District)
    • Reva Trammell (8^th District)
    • Mike Jones (9^th District)
  • Richmond School Board Chair Cheryl Burke
  • Former Richmond City Council President Kathy Graziano

• Encouraging Richmond residents to vote YES:
  • Virginia State Senator Joe Morrissey
  • Virginia State Delegate Lamont Bagby

Major business, civil rights, tourism groups and community leaders in Richmond are also encouraging their members and colleagues to support ONE Casino + Resort by flipping the ballot over and voting “yes”! They include:

Alfred C. Liggins, III, chief executive officer of Urban One, stated: “Urban One is proud of our 40-year history in serving the communities in which we work and developing unique partnerships that create enormous business opportunities. We have 20 years of experience operating radio properties in the Richmond market. We are incredibly humbled and grateful for the broad and widespread support being shown for ONE in this city. We promise we will make you proud if voters say yes between now and November 2.”

ONE will be a state-of-the-art facility in Richmond, conveniently located off I-95 in the city’s Southside. If approved the project will:

• Generate over $500 million in new tax revenue and community benefits for the city over the first 10 years
• Feature a 3,000-person capacity theater that will bring over 200 events to Richmond each year
• Provide 55 acres of new green space with walking, bike and fitness trails, a playground for all abilities and dog parks for all to use and enjoy
• Create 3,000 construction jobs and 1,500 resort jobs with an average annual salary and benefits of $55,000
• Contribute $16 million to local organizations and philanthropic groups
• Partner with local Richmond restaurant owners to bring the best of RVA food and drink to the resort
• Attract 3.7 million visitors annually with 78% of revenue generated coming from outside of the city

The project is estimated to generate over $500 million in tax revenue for the city over the first 10 years, which is critically important for Richmond’s teachers, schools, roads, parks, first responders and community programs, and for providing a new source of revenue that can help keep taxes down in the city.

No tax dollars will be used for this project.

About Urban One

Urban One, Inc. (urban1.com), together with its subsidiaries, is the largest diversified media company that primarily targets Black Americans and urban consumers in the United States. The Company owns TV One, LLC (tvone.tv), a television network serving more than 50 million households, offering a broad range of original programming, classic series and movies designed to entertain, inform and inspire a diverse audience of adult Black viewers; and CLEO TV (mycleo.tv), a television network serving more than 35 million households with a diverse slate of programming targeting millennial and Gen X women of color. As of January 2021, Urban One currently owns and/or operates 63 broadcast stations (including all HD stations, translator stations and the low power television stations we operate) branded under the tradename “Radio One” in 13 urban markets in the United States. Through its controlling interest in Reach Media, Inc. (blackamericaweb.com), the Company also operates syndicated programming including the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, the Russ Parr Morning Show and the DL Hughley Show. In addition to its radio and television broadcast assets, Urban One owns iOne Digital (ionedigital.com), its wholly owned digital platform serving the African-American community through social content, news, information, and entertainment websites, including its Cassius, Bossip, HipHopWired and MadameNoire digital platforms and brands. Urban One also has invested in a minority ownership interest in MGM National Harbor, a gaming resort located in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Through its national multi-media operations, Urban One provides advertisers with a unique and powerful delivery mechanism to the African-American and urban audiences.

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