Milford Area Chamber gets Low Response to Casino Survey, Will Not Take Position

Only about 15 business owners responded to a request by the Milford Area Chamber of Commerce to share an opinion about whether the Foxwoods Massachusetts casino will be good for the town, or business.

The low response rate was a disappointment, said Barry Feingold, presdent and CEO of the 500-member business organization Thursday.

In the responses he did receive, the opinion was divided, he said. As a result, the Chamber will not take a position on the casino application, a nearly $1 billion development proposed for a nearly 200-acre site off I-495 and Route 16.

"It reflects what we suspected," Feingold said. "It's a very divisive issue. People, for whatever reason, are reluctant to share their opinion."

The Chamber represents businesses in 10 area towns, including Holliston and Hopkinton. It had asked its members to identify themselves. And it will turn over the responses to the town of Milford and the Foxwoods Massachusetts development team, the two parties who now are negotiating a host community agreement.

Feingold said some businesses may not have wanted to identify themselves, but the chamber felt it was important.

In general, he said, restaurants who responded felt the casino would not help them, that it would be a negative impact. Other businesses said the new development would bring revenue to the town, and would help the community.

The Chamber will not take a position, because it wouldn't be appropriate to do that if the membership can't agree on whether the casino will be beneficial, he said. Most of the responses came from Milford businesses, not from other towns.

"Our membership is just as divided as the town," Feingold said.