Tewksbury Patch Q&A With Jeff Morris of Penn National Gaming

We've found more supporters. As we continue to provide information about jobs and our partnership with Middlesex Community College and folks get to see what the revenue will be used for and the renderings and what the look will be I think that will go a long way helping those undecided voters. We feel confident. 

We looked to see where else there could be an opportunity. We felt the slots-only license was a good fit considering out past with slots-only casinos. 

At first we kicked around some of the other towns in Northeastern Massachusetts, which was our first choice with the population along the Northeastern corridor. 

We looked at other parts of the state, but felt this area had the best chance to achieve the priority of Massachusetts Gaming Commission to maximize the benefits to the Commonwealth. 

Six or seven weeks ago we saw several locations in Tewksbury we liked, went and spoke with town leaders and asked if they would like to talk about it.

The Selectmen and Town Manager felt it was worth putting in front of the people of Tewksbury. We were happy to come to a Host Community Agreement that benefits Tewksbury. 

We've partnered with Middlesex Community College to provide workforce development training. Some of our jobs require specific expertise. This will allow potential employees to take a class or some training to learn these skills, and not just [Middlesex] students, but anyone in the community looking for a job can take a class, be certified and enter the workforce with us.

We would also have our own open houses. It helps us hit the ground running and get to employing Tewksbury and Merrimack Valley residents. 

Have you been communicating with surrounding communities, like Andover, who could be impacted by the proposed slots parlor?

As part of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission process we work with surrounding communities on Surrounding Community Agreements to help mitigate any effects of project on their communities. 

With Andover right next door it's imperative to meet with them and start talking with them right away. We're actually meeting with folks from Andover tomorrow [Aug. 1]

Has anyone from Andover reached out to Penn National with some of their primary concerns?

I think probably number one would be traffic. We're excited to sit down with them. We want to be a good community partner with not only Tewksbury, but also Andover, Lowell, Wilmington and any other community that may be affected by this.  

We're working as fast as humanly possible on a traffic study, and with the study would come the mitigation that we will fund completely. This would include expanded lanes, added lanes, additional lights and other improvements. 

I have been staying in the area, and I see the traffic during rush hour. I can understand people's concerns about the traffic. The last thing we want for our customers is traffic jams and access problems. We're working diligently to identify those issues and pay for the improvements. 

We've heard concerns from residents that with possible amenities including restaurants and a hotel, the proposed slots casino will hurt other Tewksbury businesses. Can you address those concerns?

We've seen the opposite. If a restaurant is serving a good product before we come to town, they're going to continue to do good business and probably more.

This is not Foxwoods where the doors close behind you and you're not going out. This would have a couple offerings but not take away from the businesses in town. 

For instance, there are great Italian restaurants in Tewksbury. We won't put an Italian restaurant in our facility. 

A hotel won't take away from the occupancy rates of other hotels in town. Should we decide to include a hotel, we would first make sure area hotels are hitting successful occupancy rates

In Toledo [where Penn National operates a Hollywood Casino], we made partnerships and promotions with local hotels. We're planning on having similar partnerships with entertainment venues in Lowell and with Tewksbury Country Club. We want to be another attraction to bring business to Tewksbury. 

We have joined the greater Merrimack convention and visitors bureau to work directly with Tewksbury and area restaurants, hotels, and attractions, just like we have done successfully across the country.

This is down the road in terms of the process of having to go through a special Town Meeting and special election first, but have you had any discussions with residents or town officials about what this proposed facility would look like?

The goal is to build something that fits community well. 

It would provide appropriate berms and buffers to provide a buffer for residents in the community nearby and at the same time it would be set far back enough from 133. 

We've asked both folks who live in vicinity, town leaders and community leaders what they'd like to see. What we've heard is they want something reserved, something in New England-style that fits in. We want the community to be proud of this as well both the employees and the residents.