LAS VEGAS -- Times are tough for many San Diegans, especially if the cost of living and high unemployment rate are factored in.

However, some San Diegans are getting a second chance with the newest development in Las Vegas known as CityCenter, which is staging what is said to be the largest one-time hiring in U.S. history.

Noel Echalas found out this summer he would be a food server at the CityCenter, which is located on the Las Vegas Strip. The $8.5 billion hotel-resort-casino will open next month.

The Boardwalk Hotel and Casino was replaced by the CityCenter, which officials call a "city within a city."

"It's the largest, privately funded development in American history," said Alan Feldman of CityCenter.

It is so large it has its own fire department and stop light.

"I was surprised. I was very, very happy; very exciting," said Echalas, who was laid off from his office job in San Diego after three years.

"I was totally mad. I was very disappointed because I didn't know anything about it," said Echalas.

Echalas was not alone, as 12,000 Californians lost their jobs in the month of August. In comparison, when CityCenter opens, it will put 12,000 people to work in one day.

"Frankly, a pretty humbling experience to say we're hiring 12,000 people in this economy," said Feldman.

10News was given exclusive access to the 67-acre property that will house four hotels, permanent residences, a casino and shopping areas. Project officials said a train will connect CityCenter with the Monte Carlo hotel and the Bellagio hotel. Also, Cirque du Soleil will unveil its "Elvis Lives" performance that celebrates the life and music of Elvis Presley at CityCenter.

Newly hired San Diegan Ralph Misarti said, "It's just so new and exciting, and it's on the Strip."

Misarti was a school counselor for the San Diego Unified School District. Budget cuts forced him into early retirement, so Misarti joined CityCenter's marketing department. He also bought a house in Las Vegas at one-sixth the price it would have cost in San Diego.

"San Diego is the best place in the whole world to live if you have a job and you can afford it," said Misarti.

"We were already so far underway that it wasn't as if we were going to stop. That wasn't going to happen," said Feldman.

This past spring, CityCenter was literally 30 minutes away from bankruptcy and sending 9,000 employees.

"And we fought our way through it. We came up with ways that we were going to get all of the money in place to complete CityCenter, and that's where we are today," said Feldman.

CityCenter is expected to be a shot in the arm for Las Vegas, and an escape for others. More than 10 percent of San Diegans were unemployed in September, but Las Vegas was worse at almost 14 percent.

"This is what's going to help. This is the thing that's going to help swing our state back into recovery mode," said Feldman.

It could help Echalas recover as well.

"Sad on that part but happy because I found this job," said Echalas.

With CityCenter's opening around the corner, some are hoping it provides an economic boost to Las Vegas, and maybe entice some San Diegans to leave home.

"If you can work and feed your family, people are going to move," said Misarti.