Division of Community Affairs

The Division of Community Affairs is responsible for coordinating, communicating and facilitating interactions between all stakeholders: state agencies, licensees, host and surrounding communities, state and local officials, community groups, divisions within the Commission and other interested parties. This office further coordinates and supports legislatively mandated Advisory Committees and sub-committees.

Formerly known as the Ombudsman’s office, the Division of Community Affairs’ functions include the management of the multi-million dollar Community Mitigation Fund grant program; compliance oversight of casino licensee commitments to the MGC, the state and local communities; coordination of quarterly and annual reports by casino licensees; and management of the casino license renewal process and interim evaluation process.

The Expanded Gaming Act created the Community Mitigation Fund, which is used to compensate for impact costs related to both Category 1 full casino facilities (MGM Springfield and Encore Boston Harbor) and the state’s Category 2 slots-only facility (Plainridge Park Casino). Since 2015, the MGC has issued approximately $38 million in funding through the Community Mitigation Fund to advance needs in transportation, community planning, workforce development and public safety for municipalities and government entities.