SAN JACINTO C.W. Driver Companies "topped out" the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians' replacement casino and hotel project. To mark the milestone of the final beams being put in place, three all-white beams were signed by Tribal Council members, Tribal Administration employees and Soboba Casino employees. Located in San Jacinto, California, the project features a 140,000-square-foot casino including 2,000 slot machines and 24 table games in addition to a six story, 200-room hotel.

"Tom (Groenendal of CW Driver) is working from above, below and both sides all at once," Arif Siddique, President and Managing member of Sicon, said. "The grading is nearly completed, and the location for the 8,300-square-foot pool has been finalized."

Groenendal said the current number of 175 workers, hired from local labor forces, will increase as construction continues with more concrete work plus mechanical, electrical and plumbing work to be done.

"The amount of workers will increase exponentially as we move forward," he said.

The project is on schedule, and the next phase will be enclosing the facility with drywall and working on the inside.

"We have great relationships with the cities of San Jacinto and Hemet and all the utility companies we are working with, which includes Frontier for our IT, EMWD for our sewer and water lines, Southern California Edison and SoCal Gas," Groenendal said.

The team has worked closely with the city of San Jacinto on the proposed road improvements. Siddique said the partnerships are successful due to the cooperation and communication between all those involved.

"Because of this project, the upgrades Edison and SoCal Gas are providing will benefit the local area and reservation with better enhanced utilities," Leo Lauer, also with Sicon, said.