MGM Grand Detroit has leased several floors in the David Whitney Building to temporarily house its hiring and job training activities as it prepares to open a temporary casino in the former IRS Building later this summer. The employment center will be called the MGM Grand Detroit "Casting Center" in keeping with MGM Grand's "Showtime" theme.

In addition to local dignitaries and MGM Grand officials, also present for the opening were Metro and Goldie, whose grandfather, Metro, was the most photographed lion for MGM Studios and MGM Hotels. The four-month-old lion cubs came to Detroit to help launch the Casting Center in Grand style. Both Metro and Goldie will be featured in the MGM Grand Las Vegas Hotel and Casino's new multi-million dollar lion habitat, due to open in the summer of 1999.

"This center demonstrates what this new industry means to Detroit -- a new center of employment that will bring thousands of new jobs to the city," said Lyn Baxter, President of MGM Grand Detroit Casino. "We are proud to be the first casino to open our employment and training center and eagerly await the opportunity to bring 'Grand Class' entertainment and 'Grand Class' service to this city.

"We will be training our 'cast members' to create an atmosphere and identity that is uniquely Detroit. Our employees, a majority of which will be hired locally, will exemplify both the spirit of MGM Grand Casinos, and the spirit of Detroit."

Prospective employees will be able to pick up and submit job applications at the David Whitney Building, or they can call a toll-free number, 1-800-654-6463, to schedule a preliminary job interview. Full job interviews will be scheduled after the applications have been reviewed by the MGM Human Resources Department.

The toll-free number has been in operation all week. Lisa J. Wicker, Vice President of Human Resources for MGM Grand Detroit, said calls have been pouring in.

"The response has been overwhelming," she said. "Clearly, there is a high degree of interest in getting in on the ground floor of this enterprise that will make Detroit one of America's foremost entertainment and gaming destinations." Wicker said actual job interviews will be scheduled for specific times to save the applicants as much time as possible.

"Rather than having people wait in long lines to be interviewed, we want to make the process as convenient as possible for job applicants," she said. "Therefore, we will be prescheduling individual interviews."

The Casting Center also will be the central location for job applicants to learn more about MGM's Grand family. The Casting Center will be open between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. on Saturday. The Casting Center will be closed on Sunday. Jobs for which openings exist include these areas: Food/Beverage, Marketing, Table Games, Slot Operations, Finance, Human Resources, Security and Surveillance.