Westborough Kick Starts Econ. Development Committee
The Town of Westborough doesn’t have a lot to complain about when it comes to economic development. The town is home to many large companies and has a healthy tax base and relatively low tax rate.
But Westborough isn’t sitting back through this recession. The town formed an economic development committee last fall, which is now kicking into high gear.
But the rough economy was not the impetus for the group’s creation, according to Town Planner James Robbins.
So far, the committee’s members have been busy contacting existing businesses in town as well as new ones that might want to locate in Westborough.
It has also created a one-page brochure detailing the benefits of the town for businesses including its location near important highways, its single tax rate for homeowners and businesses, its public water and sewer and its rail access.
“We also walk people through the permitting process and explain what is needed before they begin, which is very helpful to businesses,” Robbins said.
Hitting The Streets
Committee members have also attended local business expos, such as the recent MetroWest Biz Expo in Framingham, talking about what the town has to offer.
“We’ve been able to develop some very interesting leads about businesses starting up and some older businesses that are looking to relocate,” Robbins said. “One of the things that is very attractive about Westborough is we have single class tax rate, which means they would be paying a lower rate than they would be in many surrounding communities.”
Joseph MacDonough, executive vice president of Avidia Bank in Hudson and a member of the committee, said all is not so rosy in Westborough.
“I chose to serve on the committee as a way I could assist the town through difficult economic times by attracting and retaining businesses,” he said.
“There is between a 15 and 20 percent vacancy rate in town and the town needs the revenue.”
The committee is also focusing on key properties in town that have space including 900 West Park Dr., which is an 193,000-square-foot office building; 20 Walkup Dr., a 110,000-square-foot office building recently renovated to clean lab space and 12 Union St., a 275,000-square-foot retail building downtown.
Westborough is already home many successful companies such as EMC, Astra Zeneca, E.L. Harvey, National Grid and Genzyme Corp.
The committee, which has 11 members, includes representation from the selectmen, assessors, department of public works, town counsel, building department and Town Manager Henry Danis, as well as Robbins.
There are also three business people who live in town, including MacDonough, Lester Hensley, owner of EmSeal Joint Systems Ltd. and MassDevelopment’s Bonnie Sullivan.
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