CANYONVILLE, Ore. - A $40 million expansion at Seven Feathers Casino and Convention Center has begun in earnest, promising 109 new permanent jobs and employing contractors from Douglas County to construct the new addition.

The official groundbreaking was Thursday and seven golden shovels wielded by Cow Creek Tribe officials turned over a ceremonial turn of new ground to signal the new project's start.

"We include in this addition, with the addition of Stix, (sports bar addition) is right at $40 million," said Project Coordinator Carl Salter. "Just rough figures, about 60 percent of our contractors are Douglas County contractors."

The new hotel addition doubles the current rooms to over 300 and increases restaurant square footage.

The restaurant will be looking to hire more help in August, and by next March, the complex hopes to add a total of over 100 new, good paying jobs to the local economy.

Between the new hotel, meeting rooms and larger restaurant, the whole complex will be almost a third larger, making Seven Feathers Resort over 360,000 square feet under one roof.

Some local contractors on the job include LTM/Knife river, Rio Communications, Caldwell Construction, Nelson and Pyle Woodworking, IE Engineering, Casey Jones Well Drilling, Doors Plus, Preference Pools and Spa, Tool Masonry and Sims Electric.