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Date: 11/17/2020
WEST SPRINGFIELD – On Nov. 9, the Massachusetts Lottery opened its new Western Massachusetts claims center at 383 Memorial Ave. All prizes of $100,000 or less can be claimed at this location.
The old claims center on Fort Street in Springfield closed for good on Nov. 6. The new center in West Springfield will be open Monday through Friday, from 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. excluding holidays.
According to Christian Teja, the director of communications for the Massachusetts Lottery, the reason for change in location was due to an expiring lease, which legally required the Lottery to engage in a public bidding process.
“Like all state agencies, we worked with the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) throughout the procurement process,” said Teja.
The state’s official website describes DCAMM as an agency within the Executive Office for Administration and Finance that is responsible for “capital planning, major public building construction, facilities management, and real estate for the commonwealth.”
The newly-established claims center benefits from a favorable location within the city, according to Teja. The Lottery has a five-year lease for this location.
“The location is readily accessible from major roadways, and has ample parking,” said Teja. “Being in a plaza with other popular businesses provides good exposure for the Lottery.”
Teja also describes the floor plan within the building as “customer-friendly,” and designed to serve the public in an “efficient, and comfortable manner.”
Much like in the case of the former Springfield location, the claims center in West Springfield will follow the guidance and orders of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the federal Center for Disease Control for COVID-19.
At the prize centers, these include plexiglass dividers between employees and customers; requiring employees and customers to wear masks; limiting customer capacity at any one time; signage encouraging social distancing; and keeping surfaces sanitized.