• Promote Maine!
• Almost 1,000 New Jobs!
• Jobs that cannot be OUTSOURCED!
• $32 MILLION* in Annual
  Educational Benefits to Mainers!
• Over $50 MILLION* Economic
  Stimulus Every Year to Maine!

(Check back often and please forward to your friends!)

WCSH TV 6 Portland Maine Coverage of
Black Bear Entertainment SIGNATURE SUCCESS!

You must have a PDF file opener to view this file. (get Adobe® Reader® FREE)
Click image to read full article.

Audio:

  UPDATE interview with Peter Martin
Black Bear Entertainment Information Services 11/16/09

  MPBN Radio Interview with Peter Martin
MPBN Radio Report 11/09/2009

Articles:

  OXFORD SELECTMEN APPROVE CASINO RESORT PLAN Sun Journal 11/06/2009

  100,000 SIGNATURES GATHERED!
Black Bear Entertainment Information Services 11/09/2009

  STATE ECONOMIC FORECAST STILL GRIM
Bangor Daily News 10/28/2009

  EDUCATION FUNDING IS CRITICAL!
Portland press Herald 11/08/2009

  EDUCATION BIG BENEFACTOR IN CASINO PROPOSAL Black Bear Entertainment Information Services 11/01/2009

The Vision of Black Bear Entertainment:

At Black Bear Entertainment, our vision is to build a four-season destination resort in Oxford County, Maine with a national reputation that will not only complement and enhance the mystique of Maine, but will be environmentally friendly and offer the highest quality entertainment and customer satisfaction.

Black Bear Entertainment is passionate about creating meaningful employment and career opportunities in the hospitality industry for thousands of people, including Maine’s young adults. We plan to introduce new economic energy to Western Maine in particular, while attracting thousands of new visitors each year who are also likely to explore the vacation, recreational and cultural opportunities that the rest of our great State has to offer. While doing so, we will strive to improve the quality of life for our fellow citizens, in particular by contributing in a profound way to the education of Maine’s children, and students seeking higher education.

“I believe this Four Season Resort project in Oxford County will not only add badly needed jobs and an economic stimulus to our State, but that it will help many of those who are just making ‘ends meet’ enjoy a greater quality of life for their family, and allow more Mainers to achieve their greatest possible potential right here in Maine. Both myself and my wife Mimi, who is a former teacher and speech therapist are especially enthusiastic about the substantial contribution this project will make to a better education for all Mainers.”

STEPHEN BARBER, a partner, and President of Black Bear Entertainment, LLC, is the former President/CEO of Barber Foods, one of the most respected specialty food companies in America. Steve’s entrepreneurial, innovative and collaborative leadership skills have allowed him to contribute not only to the substantial growth of the company his father founded, but to numerous civic and community organizations.

Steve has been the honoree of many awards for helping make Maine a better place to live, work and raise a family, such as the Distinguished Citizen Award of the Boy Scouts of America, the Governors Award for Business Excellence, and the Magis Award from Cherverus High, ‘People for Others.’ Growing up, being educated, working and raising a family in Maine has endeared Steve to the deeply held values of independence, integrity and the exceptional values of Mainers in every corner of the State.

“Living here in Oxford, we look out every day at the deep and important need for new jobs. Without a doubt the ‘working poor’ have increased in Maine. This project will go a long way in creating over 1,000 new jobs with good pay and benefits, not to mention the tremendous economic stimulus to the State.”

RUPERT & SUZANNE GROVER, partners and investors in Black Bear Entertainment, LLC, are the founders and board members of one of the most successful businesses in Oxford County, Grover Gundrilling, Inc., established in 1983. This high tech specialty drilling company has attracted business clients from all over the world. Their entrepreneurial success has allowed them to generously give back to their community, and to the State of Maine in numerous ways. Both former teachers, the Grover’s understand how important it is make the Maine education system, on every level, the best that it can possibly be.

Rupert sits on the board of the Oxford County Agricultural Society and Suzanne’s hours are filled with board contributions to the Western Maine Arts, the Oxford Hills Food Pantry, The University of Maine 4-H, and many others. The Grover’s founded and built Boxberry School in Oxford and co-coached an ‘Odyssey of the Mind Team’ for several years that won first place in the State of Maine, going on to help Maine win 1st place in the World competition. Their company, Grover Gundrilling, was honored by Governor King for business excellence, and each year the Grover’s award scholarships to two students at Telstar Regional High School, as well as scholarships at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School. In 2002, Suzanne received the Unsung Hero Award from the United States Harness Writers Association for her exceptional leadership skills.

“I was thrilled to be able to create a business in Maine that would draw business from all over America and the World. Our employees have always enjoyed the advantages of a good salary and benefits, while living life the way they love to in Maine. Now more than ever, we need to create private enterprises in Maine that bring new revenue across our borders. More importantly, with jobs that can never be outsourced to any other country. The jobs we create in Oxford County can never be outsourced, and experts project more than 50% of our revenues will come from out of State. That’s new money for great jobs, benefits and a true economic stimulus.”

JIM BOLDEBOOK, a partner and investor in Black Bear Entertainment, LLC, is the founder of Creative Broadcast Concepts (CBC Inc.) in Biddeford, Maine. Since 1983, this Maine Corporation has been one of the largest retail automobile advertising agencies in the World, and one of Maine’s top ad firms. Employing 30 people at the Biddeford headquarters, CBC has helped tell the story of America’s most successful dealerships in such markets as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia. and 70 other top markets. Under Jim’s direction, CBC was the first retail auto ad agency to join the prestigious J.D. Power Automotive Superdealer Roundtable. For the past 18 years, Jim has written the advertising column for the leading automotive trade publication, Dealer Magazine, with additional articles featured in over 500 advertising and marketing forums. He is a member of the Gerson Lehman Council of Advisors in New York, consulting with investment banking firms on a variety of advertising issues and trends.

“I’m truly excited about being a part of this great proposal to bring new economic energy to Western Maine. I was really thrilled when our partnership agreed that education would be a huge beneficiary of this project. We can only expect the best of a society that places the highest value on good education. Not only are we talking about a substantial amount of money for K-12, this project could potentially fund scholarships for over 700 Maine students to University of Maine each year, as well as tuition to help to many community colleges.”

ROBERT W. LALLY JR., a partner, and Treasurer of Black Bear Entertainment, LLC, is co-owner of the Mt. Abram Ski Resort in Greenwood Maine. Previously, Rob worked worked for Tedeschi Realty Corp. of Rockland, MA, a family owned and operated real estate company that developed, built, and managed one of the largest grocery anchored retail portfolios in New England. At Tedeschi Realty, he was responsible for many aspects of the management of a large real estate portfolio including land acquisition, permitting, development, lease negotiations, and investment opportunities.

Prior to joining Tedeschi Realty Corp., Mr. Lally spent seven years with Booz-Allen & Hamilton, a leading international consulting firm focusing on business strategy and transformation.

Mr. Lally graduated Boston College cum laude with a BS in Economics and Environmental Science. Mr. Lally is professionally affiliated with the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Rob not only fell in love with Maine, but while skiing in the Maine mountains, he met his wife Maureen. They were married after he proposed in a snowfield at the top of Mt. Abram. They have one child.

“This four season fun filled resort will not only bring badly needed jobs with benefits to an area of Maine that is desperate for economic development, but will also send millions of dollar directed towards education. Maine’s future is in having an educated equipped workforce to compete and attract more business to our state. We believe this project will bring hope and opportunity and be a catalyst for future economic development.”

PETER MARTIN, has been selected as spokesperson for the 2010 Oxford Casino initiative for Black Bear Entertainment. Peter is a partner in Atlantic Strategies a Maine LLC specializing in public policy and legislative issues. A native of Portland, Maine, Peter began his career in the food service industry and along with his father they opened the John Martin Restaurant Chain. The business employed over 600 people and was regarded as one of Maine premiere dining chains at that time.

During that period Peter became President of the Maine Restaurant Association and championed its largest membership enrollment the association had seen. He lobbied for tougher liquor liability laws and as a result many of Maine’s liquor liability laws were established.

In 1993 Peter opened Maine’s first Off Track Wagering Facility launching the States first foray into gaming expansion. During the next 15 years Peter lobbied for the orderly and controlled expansion of gaming in Maine and helped author LD1820 which regulates and controls slot machines in Maine through the Maine Gaming Control Board.

Peter fought hard for the passage of question 2 in 2003 which established Maine’s first Racino and has consulted on two other statewide gaming referendums as well lobbying for passing the expansion of Maine’s Pine Tree Zones for manufacturers. He was instrumental in authoring the current referendum for the Oxford Casino. He believes The Oxford Four Season Resort & Casino will be nothing but an economic boost for Oxford County but in addition to that the millions of dollars in educational funding will benefit every Maine citizen wherever they live.

WHY we are proposing this Four Season Resort and Casino project.

Hollywood Slots, operating in Bangor since 2007.

The casino industry is the fastest growing entertainment venue in the World. There is some form of gaming in 40 States, including the State of Maine.

Since 2007, Hollywood Slots in Bangor, Maine, has successfully generated substantial revenue and tax benefits to the people of Maine without any major negative impact. Despite predictions by opponents that the ‘sky would fall’, it has not. Hollywood Slots has proven that opponents’ objections were exaggerated, fear-based distortions.

Research and experience supports our position that this project will:

• Create as many as 1,000 new, good paying, year round jobs at a time those jobs are critically needed in Maine.*
• Create indirectly as many as 800 more jobs in construction, support services and induced economic growth.*
• Bring more people from out-of-state to an area of Maine less exposed to traditional tourism and drive additional tourist revenue to both existing and new entertainment attractions.
• Dramatically lower unemployment and social dependency in Oxford County.
• Provide substantial revenue for the education system of Maine on every level, including hundreds of scholarships for our University of Maine system and community colleges throughout the State.
• Generate over half of our revenues from out-of-state.*
• Be a well-regulated, exceptional employer, an exceptional tourist attraction and valued community partner.
• Have the least possible environmental ‘footprint’ impact of any potential employer on a revenue per square foot basis. No drilling. No chemicals. No smokestacks. No thousands of large trucks.
• Provide property tax relief to all citizens of Maine by generously contributing to the largest single item on property tax bills; education.

WHERE will this project happen?

We believe the location of a four season resort and casino in Oxford County is the best place to site such an entertainment complex in Maine.

• Maine people here need the jobs. This is one of the most economically depressed areas of New England, hit hard by loss of manufacturing jobs.
• Residents WANT this project! In 2008 the people of Oxford County overwhelmingly supported a similar project. We believe the legislation we are proposing is substantially better than last year’s offering at a time when the need is even greater.
• Oxford is near a Maine Turnpike exit with substantial improvements in main roads to the Oxford area.

• This location will enable us to attract more than 50% of revenue from out-of-state with close proximity to adjoining New England states. (see map)

• This location provides excellent access to many other entertainment and tourism attractions in Maine, such as hiking, kayaking and skiing.
• This location will have no negative impact on our traditional coastal tourism.

WHEN will this project happen?

Now thru Dec 09	We have successfully gathered all the signatures we need to put this on the 2010 November ballot! Thank You!
May – October 2010	Information campaign to inform voters on the proposed project and legislation.
November 2010	Maine voters decide.
Spring 2011	Licensing approval by the State of Maine.
Summer 2011	Final decisions on design, site and approval by Oxford municipality.
Late summer 2011	Ground breaking/construction could begin as early as summer 2011.
Mid 2012	Initial phase of Black Bear Four Season Resort and Casino welcomes first visitors!