It was revealed on Monday, the 7th of March, by the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Gaming Authority that the construction of the announced First Light Resort & Casino in Taunton might begin in early April. More precisely, the Authority mentioned the 5th of April as the possible date when the project would be officially started.
Three contractors have been already hired by the tribe to begin with demolition of existing buildings and prepare the site for work. Those companies are The Penta Bulding Group, Dimeo Construction Company and Talako Construction. The first contractor has led many gaming projects in Las Vegas, whereas Dimeo is best known for overseeing the construction of the Twin River Casino in Rhode Island. The last company has been mostly working on projects in the south-eastern parts of the States.
A written statement was provided by the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council Chairman Cerdic Cromwell who pointed out that the tribe had a compact with the state as well as support from the city. He also explained that the tribe was ready to “move quickly” and start the construction of a “world-class destination resort.” According to his statement, the facility would provide a “boost to the regional economy” and additionally secure the tribe’s “prosperous future.”
The Mashpee tribe has already provided a building code ordinance and Cromwell highlighted that they were prepared to update the state’s Gaming Commission on their plans. Furthermore, a building code enforcement team has been appointed to oversee inspections of the project development.
It’s interesting to note that the announcement by the tribe comes at a time when the Massachusetts Gaming Commission has to decide whether to approve the construction of a competitor commercial casino in the south-eastern area of the state widely known as Region C.