Stronach to Build Trade School Near Pimlico

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Magna Entertainment Corp. chairman Frank Stronach formally announced Wednesday plans for a new job-training center to be located near Pimlico Race Course in Maryland.

The $7-million project, which will be called Magna Baltimore Technical Training Center, will be located at a former elementary school near the track. It is slated to open in September, the Baltimore Sun reports.

The center will offer a tool-and-die program along with a separate building maintenance program. Once a program is completed, students can either receive a trade certificate or enter a two-year associate degree program at Baltimore City College.

It is widely thought the project was created in part to help Magna gain support for slot machines to Maryland. Magna owns a majority interest in the Maryland Jockey Club, operators of Pimlico and Laurel Park, and is lobbying state officials for slots approval.

This will be the fourth training center opened by Stronach and the first in the United States.

"I had a trade, and that allowed me to do things," Stronach said. "That's what we want to do here. Hopefully, we'll get some people out of here who start some businesses."

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