West Springfield Awarded Over $518,000 in Mass Gaming Grants
Published on August 13, 2025
West Springfield, MA: The Town of West Springfield has been awarded $518,300 from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s Community Mitigation Fund (“CMF”) to strengthen public safety, improve transportation infrastructure, and enhance community amenities for residents and visitors.
The funding will support a variety of initiatives. Downtown West Springfield will benefit from the installation of new community wayfinding signage, developed in accordance with the Town’s 2024 Wayfinding Study, which will help guide residents and visitors to key municipal buildings, parks, and cultural destinations. The West Springfield Fire Department will conduct a specialized one-day Standpipe Operations training for 25 firefighters and lieutenants, enhancing the department’s readiness to respond to high-rise and complex structure fires.
Public safety staffing will also be reinforced, with continuing funding to support eight firefighters, eight police officers, and three dispatchers who were hired to address increased demands on emergency services associated with the MGM Springfield casino. The West Springfield Police Department will receive partial funding for the purchase of a new prisoner transport van, improving officer safety and operational efficiency. Traffic safety will be bolstered through dedicated police patrols focused on enforcement, the addition of two new Lidar speed detection units, and the purchase of a traffic trailer message/sign board to inform motorists of speed limits, road conditions, and community events.
Finally, the Town’s bike share program will expand with the installation of two new stations, making alternative transportation more accessible and connecting more neighborhoods to downtown, parks, and regional trails.
“We are grateful to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission for recognizing the importance of these initiatives to West Springfield,” said Mayor Will Reichelt. “This funding allows us to strengthen our emergency response capacity, improve transportation safety, and invest in amenities that will enhance the quality of life for our residents. It’s an important investment in both our public safety and our community’s future.”
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission awarded nearly $22.8 million in Community Mitigation Fund grants to municipalities and organizations across the state this year. Since its creation in 2015, the CMF has distributed more than $79 million to assist host and surrounding communities in offsetting the impacts of casino construction and operation.
###