With regards to the city’s economic improvement outlook in 2013, competing proposals for a casino project are being named a potential “game-changer,” in Springfield but far from the only game in town, based on major regional officials.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Chief Improvement Officer Kevin E. Kennedy said the city is making good progress in pursuing a casino project, having two “first class” companies, MGM Resorts International and Penn National Gaming competing for the sole license offered in Western Massachusetts. Every single project is roughly $800 million, with MGM proposing a casino in the South End and Penn National proposing a project inside the North Finish from the downtown district.

Even so, the casino effort that started final year and is continuing this year is just a single main component of a multi-prong work to promote economic development in Springfield, they mentioned.

“The elephant inside the room is certainly the casino,” Sarno said. “We are fighting tooth and nail. But that hasn’t sucked each of the air out of it… We’re going to move forward complete throttle on financial development projects and public security.”

Economic improvement is crucial for tax revenue and jobs, and the city has fared properly in the face of critical financial challenges and also the hard economic climate, Sarno stated.

There was considerable progress last year in moving forward plans for the $78 million, multi-phase Union Station redevelopment project, Sarno and Kennedy stated. In 2013, the public will see the baggage constructing come down plus the start off of redevelopment following decades of inactivity, Kennedy stated.

The initial phase, costing $48.six million, is funded, which includes $31 million in federal cash. The intermodal transportation project will include things like restoring the main terminal and creating a 23-bay bus terminal and 400-space parking garage.

The city also expects to finalize negotiations in the close to future together with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, with regards to millions of dollars in disaster aid to assist rebuild sections of Springfield damaged by the tornado of 2011, Sarno said.

Likewise, the city is negotiating with Columbia Gas to help rebuild a downtown region that was seriously damaged within the gas explosion in November, Sarno and Kennedy stated.

The city’s economic development team will continue operating with state, federal and regional agencies, as well as the private sector in moving forward initiatives for instance: the $25 million redevelopment of your former Mason Square fire station and Indian Motocycle building; Court Square redevelopment efforts, such as the 13-31 Elm St. block; downtown organization growth and improvements in downtown lighting and safety, advancement of efforts to reconstruct Boston Road; and finishing the design for the North Main Street road reconstruction project, Sarno and Kennedy said.

There may also be a study completed that could outcome in plans progressing for any far-stronger physical presence by the University of Massachusetts in Springfield, they said.

The city can also be committed to neighborhood revitalization, such as demolition of blighted buildings, renovations of housing, and efforts to attract industry price housing and residence obtaining, Sarno stated.

Relating to casinos, the city started 2012 with just one particular casino proposal for $550 million, and ended the year with the two competing projects at $800 million every, officials stated.

Sarno said he’s “very bullish” on Springfield and believes that both residents and non-residents are also bullish. He anticipates that Springfield will perform on a advertising and marketing campaign in the coming year that urges persons to take a new look at Springfield.

Kennedy stated essential projects that happen to be set to become completed in 2013 include things like a state information center in the former Technical High School creating, that will be followed by road improvements in that area.

Moreover, the Springfield Parking Authority is set to refinance in 2013, and can be a stronger companion in enhancing the downtown financial situations.

Once disaster aid is finalized for Springfield, the city can expand efforts to create a new senior center at Blunt Park, a new South End Neighborhood Center, and other projects, Kennedy said.