On Friday, the Catawba Indian Nation said it will “fast-track” the opening of part of its $273 million North Carolina casino.

A “pre-launch” facility for their Two Kings Casino Resort in Kings Mountain. It will open this summer with 500 slot machine .

There was an announcement a when the Catawbas, based in Rock Hill . The federal Bureau of Indian Affairs approved a revenue-sharing agreement with North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper in January.

“With the completion of our compact with the State of North Carolina. The Catawba Nation is eager to open the casino as quickly as possible to begin bringing economic benefits. That will create jobs to the state and region,” Catawba Chief Bill Harris said in a statement.

The facility will consist of “prefabricated modular structures”. It will include “limited food and beverage and other guest amenities,” Harris said.

An “introductory” phase of the full North Carolina casino is still planned and will feature 1,300 more slot machines. That building “will be a permanent structure. It will become part of the full casino,” according to a tribal news release. “Its construction will take about a year.”

Brian Hansberry, president of Delaware North’s gaming business said in the statement. The facility also will give the casino a place to teach incoming staff. That accommodates people in the region who are anxious to start gaming this summer.

Once opened the casino is expected to create 2,600 permanent jobs and thousands of construction jobs. However, a lawsuit by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians against the project will be active in the courts.