The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) are proud to announce that the MGC has joined the Chamber’s Pacesetters program. Pacesetters, a signature program in the Chamber’s Economic Opportunity portfolio, leverages procurement as an equity tool to advance economic opportunity across the Commonwealth by focusing on access to contracts for businesses of color.

The MGC is an independent body that is responsible for developing and managing the process to select, license, oversee, and regulate all casinos in the Commonwealth and is charged with creating and maintaining a fair, transparent, and participatory process for implementing the Commonwealth’s expanded gaming law. By joining Pacesetters, MGC is deepening their already robust commitment to supporting businesses of color locally and across the state.

“The Chamber is committed to building an inclusive economy with the Pacesetters program, and I’m looking forward to strategizing with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to achieve our shared vision. As part of their commitment to supporting efforts to close the racial wealth gap, the MGC has worked with each of their three licensees to develop strategic plans to utilize businesses of color. The MGC will empower the Pacesetters program even more by continuing to champion equity within the MGC and gaming establishments throughout the Commonwealth,” said James E. Rooney, President and CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.

“The Massachusetts Gaming Commission maintains a commitment to diversity in its core values. We value a diverse workforce and supplier base and expect that our partners in the gaming industry will embrace these same values,” said Cathy Judd-Stein, Chair of the MGC. “For nearly a decade, the MGC has worked with licensees, their contractors, vendors, and community leaders to ensure that the Commonwealth’s expanded gaming industry is inclusive and provides opportunities that reflect the diversity of the Commonwealth. More recently, the Commission unanimously reaffirmed our commitment to diversity and inclusion with the adoption of a statement of purpose and related five-point action plan to dismantle barriers obstructing racial equity.  The plan requires our re-examination of procurement policies, procedures, and practices to maximize the MGC’s and licensees’ minority-owned business spend.  Our participation in the Pacesetter program is a natural extension of this effort and we applaud the Greater Boston Chamber for stepping forward and leading this effort,” continued Judd-Stein.

The Pacesetters program is supported by Presenting Sponsors Eastern Bank and John Hancock.

For more information about the Pacesetters program, click here.