East Windsor Signing Ceremony Marks New Beginning for Project

From the Mohegan, Mashantucket Pequot Tribes:The Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot Tribes held a signing ceremony at Scout Hall on Thursday, formalizing the partnership between both tribal nations and the town of East Windsor. The agreement outlines the financial benefits to the town, which include $3 million due no later than 15 months prior to opening, and $3 million per year on top of approximately $5.5 million annually in property taxes.

After signing a development agreement with the Town of East Windsor, Mohegan Tribal Chairman Kevin Brown and Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Chairman Rodney Butler spoke to the ceremony as a momentous occasion in their joint effort to protect Connecticut jobs and revenue.

“Today’s ceremony marks a new beginning,” said Rodney Butler, Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. “The signing of this agreement is an important step in bringing this vision into reality, as well as propelling our effort to protect Connecticut jobs and revenue to a whole new level.”

“Starting today, the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribes are part of the East Windsor community,” said Kevin Brown, Chairman of the Mohegan Tribe. “We look forward to getting to know our new neighbors in the coming months, and we’re eager to do whatever we can to be a good corporate citizen.”

Chairmen Butler and Brown were joined at the signing ceremony by East Windsor First Selectman Robert Maynard. Also in attendance were East Windsor Police Chief Edward DeMarco, Jr., East Windsor Superintendent Theresa Kane, East Windsor Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jim Richards, Hartford Building Trades Vice President John Nimmons, UAW Region 9A Director Julie Kushner, Foxwoods employee and UAW member Jim Broque, and Mohegan Sun employee John Pearson.

“This project is an amazing opportunity for East Windsor,” said First Selectman Robert Maynard. “We’re excited for a new gaming facility to invigorate our local economy, and we’re proud to help the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes keep jobs and dollars in our state.”

“From the beginning of this process, the Mohegans and Pequots have been extremely professional in their approach to selecting a location that meets their needs in a community where this type of economic development is desired. The jobs and tax revenue that this gaming facility will generate will be a game changer for our region,” said Senator Tim Larson (D-East Hartford).

“We have seen the tremendous impact to tourism and the economy that gaming has generated in Southeastern Connecticut over the years, and I congratulate East Windsor and the tribes as they begin this partnership. This is about protecting and creating good jobs, as well as bolstering our state’s tourism portfolio and I applaud East Windsor for having the vision to see the opportunity this will bring to Connecticut,” said Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague).

"From the first shovel of dirt this project will provide good jobs, from the construction workers to the full time casino employees, this project is a win-win situation for the state of Connecticut, the Town of East Windsor and Connecticut's workers,” said Dave Roche, President of the Connecticut Building Trades.

"I'm proud once again to stand with the leaders of two of Connecticut's top employers Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods," said Julie Kushner, Director of UAW Region 9A. "They are committed to investing their own money to keep jobs and revenue in our state. UAW dealers working at Foxwoods believe that this joint venture will create the opportunity for more Connecticut workers to have good jobs that pay a living wage, with good benefits, in a workplace that balances their needs with those of their employer's through the collective bargaining process. We look forward to a productive partnership."

"This $300 million project represents thousands of good paying jobs for construction workers here in Connecticut,” said Joe Toner, President of the Hartford Building Trades, Ironworkers Local 15. "We have a Project Labor Agreement on this project, that means Connecticut construction workers will be on the job, East Windsor residents, women, minorities and veterans will all be on the job and everyone will have quality pay and benefits. This project and these jobs are great news for the Hartford region and for the state of Connecticut."

On Monday, the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribes announced that they had selected East Windsor as the site for their planned Hartford-area casino. This announcement followed an East Windsor Board of Selectmen meeting on Saturday, during which the development agreement between the Tribes and the Town was voted on and passed unanimously.

As noted earlier, the development agreement states that MMCT will pay the Town of East Windsor $3 million no later than 15 months before the gaming facility opens. MMCT will also pay the Town $3 million annually on top of regular tax payments, which are expected to total approximately $5.5 million per year.

MMCT has committed to use of union labor for construction of the facility. And the permanent jobs at the casino will be good paying jobs with good benefits.

The development agreement also emphasizes MMCT’s commitment to local hiring practices, setting a goal of hiring at least 4% of the casino workforce from East Windsor and 15% of its employees from within a 25-mile radius of the facility. In pursuit of these ends, the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribes will host two job fairs in East Windsor. About 75% of the positions at the new casino will be full-time.

Image courtesy of Mohegan, Mashantucket Pequot Tribes