On Tuesday, October 29, commissioners and staff from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) visited communities in the Foxborough, Plainville and Wrentham area, first to host a public hearing on Plainville Gaming and Redevelopment’s application to conduct racing in 2025. The Commission continued its visit to the region with an event at Foxborough’s Marilyn Rodman Performing Arts Center (MRPAC), highlighting the impact of a Community Mitigation Fund (CMF) grant that has been awarded in support of the Visit Foxborough Plainville Wrentham (FPW) Regional Marketing Initiative.

Plainville Gaming and Redevelopment, otherwise known as Plainridge Park Casino, operates a standardbred horse racing track and simulcast operation, and must apply annually to the Commission to host live racing. In reviewing this application, commissioners host an in-person public hearing in Plainville to solicit feedback from local leaders and community members. During the hearing, which was held at the Plainville Public Safety Building, the applicant, town officials and community members voiced support for the application. This included detailed description of the track operations and community impact. A recording of this hearing can be found on the Commission’s YouTube Channel. The next step in this process is an adjudicatory hearing scheduled for early November.

Following the public hearing, Commissioners and staff gathered at the MRPAC in Foxborough’s Uptown neighborhood with members of the local community including business owners, members of the cultural community, state and local officials, and other invited guests to discuss the impact of the Visit FPW Regional Marketing Initiative. This initiative is supported by a grant from the Commission’s Community Mitigation Fund and has received approximately $670,000 from the CMF including $153,000 this past funding cycle.

“The Community Mitigation Fund is an effective program that the Commission is proud to administer and provide grants to eligible entities to make an impact in their communities to grow the economic opportunities created by expanded gaming,” said MGC Chair Jordan Maynard. “Seeing firsthand the impact these grants have on communities and meeting with the committed individuals who bring these projects to life is rewarding for the Commission.”

Commissioners were treated to a tour of the MRPAC by its executive director, Catherine Miller, and artistic director Jennifer Rathbun. The tour included an overview of theater operations, history, and renovations. The MRPAC is a recipient of the Mass Cultural Council’s (MCC) Casino Mitigation Program, which provides grants to cultural organizations with funds derived from gaming revenues. MCC executive director Michael Bobbit was on hand to discuss why funding projects like the MRPAC is important to the MCC.

The regional grant awarded by the Commission has received funding from the CMF for multiple cycles. A cross-section of speakers from the hospitality and cultural sectors joined local municipal leaders to talk about the impact of applying for and administering a regional grant. The area boasts a variety of tourism opportunities, from shopping at the Wrentham Premium Outlets, seeing a game or getting food at Patriot Place/Gillette Stadium, outdoor activities, local restaurants, and, of course, PPC. The grant has funded a targeted campaign to communicate the vibrant community in the region and encourage Massachusetts residents and those from out of state to visit.

Speakers were adamant that the success of the region is a direct result of the commitment of the members of the regional community, from business owners to town officials and their neighbors who believe in the area. State Representative Marcus Vaughn and State Senator Paul Feeney attended the event and echoed the message of regional cooperation.

Commissioners closed out the public meeting portion of the event by thanking those in attendance and noting that seeing the results of grants they award and meeting the people responsible for those projects leave an impact on them. A recording of this meeting will also be available on the Commission’s YouTube Channel.

The expanded gaming act established the CMF to support communities and eligible governmental entities in offsetting the costs related to the construction and operation of gaming facilities. Since 2015, the MGC has awarded approximately $56.7 million in funding to advance transportation, community planning, workforce development, and public safety initiatives for eligible municipalities and government entities located near casinos. The CMF provided over $18 million to 23 host/surrounding communities, and 10 regional entities during the last funding cycle. The CMF funds projects related to transportation infrastructure, pedestrian safety, community development, research, and public safety.