Gaming panel promotes worker diversity

BOSTON, Mass. (WWLP) - The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is in the process of writing regulations that will outline their expectations for workforce diversity hiring in the casino industry.

“Commission has a great deal of discretion and will exercise that discretion in favor of encouraging participating by minorities, women-owned businesses and veterans,” said Gaming Commissioner James McHugh.

Lamont Troy is one of several small business owners trading business cards and networking at the “diversity” conference hosted by the Commission.  He hopes to expand his flooring business.

“I’m a floor covering contractor,” said Troy.  “Yes I’m trying to get a job in western Massachusetts, particularly anywhere…  So I’m trying to get myself known to the casino people.”

And it turns out Troy has just the right idea.  Advisors to the Commission said there need to be outreach programs through local groups and community colleges to recruit a diverse workforce.  But they also said a lot of the initiative needs to be taken by local business owners themselves.  

“The Commission, employers, educators need to know that there are people that are ready, but people need to step forward and do that now.  This is not going to happen over night,” said Mark Isenburg, the workforce development vice president of ABCD Inc.

The Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby recommended that small businesses get in touch with casino developers and make them aware of their services.