T
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ITY OF
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PRINGFIELD,
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ASSACHUSETTS
M
AYOR
D
OMENIC
J
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S
ARNO
HOME OF THE BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME
City of Springfield • 36 Court Street • Springfield, MA 01103-1687 • (413) 787-6100
PRESS RELEASE CONTACT:
Tom WalshCommunications DirectorOffice of Mayor Domenic J. SarnoTWalsh@springfieldcityhall.com
Tel: (413) 787-6109
DESTINATION CASINO RESORT SELECTION PROCESS ANNOUNCED
August 27, 2012
- The City is pleased to announce its proposed selection process for adestination casino resort project. Pursuant to an “Act Establishing Expanded Gaming in theCommonwealth,” codified at Chapter 194 of the Acts of 2011, a Host Community Agreement isrequired for a category 1 gaming license in Western
Massachusetts
.The City is in the enviable position of having multiple casino companies interested in locatingwithin the City. To obtain the best possible proposal for the City, the Commonwealth andapplicable surrounding communities, we have established a two-phase competitive selectionprocess. Through this process, Mayor Sarno, with the advice and assistance of the City’s legaland other consultants and advisors, will select one or more enterprises with whom to negotiateand execute a Host Community Agreement.The first phase of the competitive selection process will focus on the overall financial suitabilityof the proposers, their experience and general project concept. The second phase will requiremore specific information concerning the proposers, their projects and the expected economicbenefits the City would receive under a Host Community Agreement.“It is with great excitement that we kick-off the casino selection process,” said Mayor Sarno.“This much anticipated economic development project will be the largest in the City’s historyand means thousands of good paying jobs for our residents, significant opportunities for ourbusiness community and sustainable economic benefits for our great City,” the Mayor continued.“I have instructed our City departments and our consultants to conduct an open, fair and robustcompetitive process that will allow me to choose that project or projects that best meet the City’sselection criteria.”
Between now and September 5, 2012, the date on which the first phase of the selection process isexpected to be released, the City administration and its consultants will meet with members of the City Council, the Springfield business community, state legislators and other interestedparties to discuss the process and receive comments.During the selection process, the City expects to host public meetings at which casino developerswill make public presentations of their proposals to City residents and at which input will besought from those residents. The City will also maintain a dedicated casino website at whichresidents can receive updated information on the developers’ proposals and the selection process.Although Mayor Sarno will lead the negotiations of any Host Community Agreement, the CityCouncil must approve any Host Community Agreement. The City administration and itsconsultants will advise the City Council on at least a monthly basis on the selection process andother matters relating to the casino proposals.The gaming act requires that the final Host Community Agreement and a concise summary of the agreement be published in a periodical of general circulation and be posted on the City’swebsite no later than seven days after it is signed. In addition, the gaming act requires that thequestion of whether to locate a gaming establishment in the City be submitted to the voters fortheir approval.The City’s proposed selection process is as follows:
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The City’s proposed selection process will be in two phases.
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Phase I, expected to commence September 5, 2012, will seek to pre-qualify enterprisesbased on a variety of criteria including financial suitability, experience, and projectconcept. Those responders who meet the City’s qualification criteria will then be invitedto participate in the City’s Phase II selection process.
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Phase II, expected to commence in early October 2012, will ask all proposers to addresshow their proposed project will assist the City in achieving the following core goals: (i)making a significant and lasting contribution to the City and the Commonwealth andincreasing sustainable economic benefits from tourism and conventions; (ii) being acatalyst for additional economic development in the City; (iii) creating good paying jobsand new employment opportunities for City residents; (iv) utilizing local and smallbusiness suppliers and vendors, including minority business enterprises, women businessenterprises and veteran business enterprises; (v) utilizing the City’s existingentertainment venues; (vi) mitigating any adverse impacts of the project on the City andsurrounding communities; and (vii) providing additional revenues for the City. It isexpected that the project will be competitively unique, providing a standard of serviceand excellence that will be known throughout the Northeast region of the United States.
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Through the selection process, which the City expects to be completed in mid-December2012, the Mayor will select one or more enterprises with whom to negotiate and executea Host Community Agreement.
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