The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is providing the city funds to study drinking and driving related to the casino and to take steps to mitigate the issue.
On Monday, the City Council’s finance subcommittee approved the funding coming from the Community Mitigation Fund managed by the state’s gaming commission, according to Councilor Tracye Whitfield, chairperson of the committee.
The $191,200 will help fund a qualitative study that will help further understanding about operating under the influence cases.
“Although we’ve applied for this grant for the city of Springfield because MGM is here, we know individuals who gamble at MGM come from surrounding towns and also come from out of state,” said Helen Caulton-Harris, the city’s Health and Human Services commissioner.
