Press Release: 2024-04-19
Massachusetts Gaming Commission Grants $1.5M in Workforce Development Initiatives to Boost Career Training across Commonwealth Grants Funded by Community Mitigation Fund
For Immediate Release Media Contact:
April 18, 2024 Thomas Mills (MGC) 617-979-8408
Press release: 24-029
During a public meeting on April 11, 2024, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) voted to fund a pair
of Workforce Development Grants through the MGC’s Community Mitigation Fund (CMF). Those initiatives aim
to provide comprehensive career training opportunities to individuals living in the vicinity of Encore Boston
Harbor and MGM Springfield. The applicants – the MassHire Metro North Workforce Board and Holyoke
Community College’s Adult Education and Workforce Development Program – were each awarded $750,000
for their respective projects.
"The grants that have been awarded from the Community Mitigation Fund to these important workforce
development initiatives will empower individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue rewarding
career opportunities," said Interim MGC Chair Jordan Maynard. “The Community Mitigation Fund serves a
vital role at the MGC and throughout the Commonwealth, providing robust, tangible impacts for citizens and
communities across Massachusetts.”
The CMF was established under the Expanded Gaming Act, as part of legislature’s commitment to social
responsibility reflecting a proactive approach to address the diverse needs of the local population by
supporting communities and governmental entities in offsetting impacts related to the operation of gaming
facilities.
"The support of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, through the Community Mitigation Fund, has enabled
Holyoke Community College to provide training for critical Line Cook positions at MGM Resorts Springfield and
other regional employers,” said Kermit Dunkelberg, Assistant Vice President of Adult Education and
Workforce Development at Holyoke Community College. “Through our partnerships with Springfield
Technical Community College and Springfield Public Schools, we also help adults attain high school
equivalency, digital literacy and job readiness skills leading to employment. As a result of this support, we have
provided opportunities to hundreds of adult job seekers since 2017, addressing the needs of the culinary-
hospitality workforce in Hampden County, including MGM."
The grant will be channeled into a range of workforce development programs, including but not limited to
occupational training in relevant hospitality industries, skill-building workshops, English for Speakers of Other
Languages (ESOL) courses, GED and HiSet certification, and digital literacy courses to enhance employability
of applicants. Access to specialized certifications and credentials recognized by employers across various
sectors will also be available.
“MassHire Metro North Workforce Board (MHMNWB) and its partners are thrilled to be able to continue the
important work of the Metro Boston Regional Gaming and Hospitality Consortium (MBRGHC) through this
grant,” said MHMNWB President and CEO Chris Albrizio-Lee. “We are appreciative of the Mass Gaming
Commission and Encore Boston Harbor for their continued partnership, and we look forward to helping
residents across the Metro Boston region connect with and prepare for high quality gaming and hospitality
careers.”
Since 2015, the MGC has granted approximately $48 million in funding to advance needs in transportation,
community planning, workforce development, and public safety initiatives for eligible municipalities and
government entities located in the vicinity of Massachusetts casinos. For more information, please visit the
MGC’s website.
Photo Courtesy of Holyoke Community College