A couple cents from pussyluver.
First, need a good designer on the cheap? Try Itto
http://worldclassvisuals.com/ - he just put up that site and is working on a portfolio. I've used him and am more than happy to do it again.
As for content to fill your site, I'd for sure look at some portals or feeds to incase the amount of content quickly and make the site more sticky. In fact you might consider cobranding. Then again you said you had tons of content. I'd take a look at
http://www.webmasterparadise.com/ and talk to TheLegacy (ICQ 102612416). They seem to have some good buys.
There are also people around that consult and would do a turn key solution for ya. Check the resources tab here too.
Just have a few posts on the board, hope those plugs didn't violate board rules.