The Palmer-based group has yet to receive word if Bozsum will meet with them, but members of the pro-casino group are encouraged by the chairman's vow to be "the first casino to open its doors in Massachusetts."
Bruce Bozsum, chairman of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, left, talks with George Monte, of Monson, during a holiday party open to the public at the authorityâs Palmer office in 2010.
PALMER — The Citizens for Jobs and Growth in Palmer has extended an invitation to Mohegan Tribal Council Chairman Bruce "Two Dogs" Bozsum to address the pro-casino group sooner rather than later, according to Jennifer Baruffaldi, spokeswoman for the Palmer organization.
"We have received notification that they will attend, but we have to narrow down a date and time," Baruffaldi said Monday, adding that the meeting will likely take place in February.
It remains unclear if Bozsum will come, but the tribe, which hopes to build a casino in Palmer, said it plans to have representation at the upcoming meeting, Baruffaldi said.
The citizens' group strongly backs Mohegan Sun's proposed luxury resort casino for 152 acres bordering Route 32 in Palmer. The land, part of a 300-acre parcel, is directly across from the Massachusetts Turnpike entrance.
Members of Citizens for Jobs and Growth in Palmer are craving project details, which so far have been scant. While some companies vying for the state's lone casino license for Western Massachusetts have already provided renderings with specific dimensions and other details, Mohegan Sun so far has only stated its intention to build a luxury hotel with slot machines, table games, restaurants, retail stores and meeting and entertainment space.
Still, Baruffaldi said her group is encouraged that Mohegan Sun made last week's deadline to pay a non-refundable application fee to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, the agency charged with overseeing the state's casino gambling industry. Under state law, up to three casinos and a slot parlor can be built in different geographic regions of the state.
Jennifer Baruffaldi
"We are very excited. We're pleased that they've submitted the application and paid the $400,000 fee," Baruffaldi said. "We certainly support them wholeheartedly, and we anticipate they'll have a great, robust proposal."
Baruffaldi said she has met Bozsum before, but the chairman has never addressed Citizens for Jobs and Growth in Palmer. "It is our intent to be the first casino to open its doors in Massachusetts," Bozsum said in a statement released to news organizations last week, providing a confidence boost to Baruffaldi and other Palmer casino proponents. "That's great to know," she said.
Mohegan Sun has struck a partnership with New York investment group Brigade Capital Management to bankroll the proposed Palmer development. "We believe this partnership gives us the most solid financial footing of all the parties in competition," said Mitchell G. Etess, chief executive officer of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority. "You can put this on top of all the other advantages our proposal has."