Four Central Mass. development projects win $4.8M in tax breaks, on $102M in investment
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BrightFarms is planning a 12-acre hydroponic greenhouse in Lunenburg behind Lunenburg Crossing. Two of the plaza's tenants, Hannaford and Walmart, are its customers.
Planned development projects in Devens, Lunenburg, Marlborough and Stubridge obtained state approval for incentives on Thursday, including for a fledgling vacant-storefront program in Marlborough.
Tax breaks approved by the Massachusetts Economic Assistance Coordinating Council include a planned new facility in Devens by the manufacturer Watson-Marlow, a new 12-acre greenhouse by BrightFarms in Lunenburg and a new cold storage facility by Complete Cold Logistics in Sturbridge. Each tax break from the local municipality will save the businesses on their property tax bills above present-day valuations without the new projects.
Watson-Marlow, which makes peristaltic, or roller, pumps and associated technologies for fluids equipment, is planning a 139,000-square-foot manufacturing facility with additional land for potential future expansion. The company is planning to spend $53 million on the project, which will join its Wilmington headquarters north of Boston. Watson-Marlow is planning to create 150 new jobs, and is receiving a 10-year tax break estimated to save approximately $1.5 million in return.
BrightFarms, a packaged salad brand, is planning a $27-million hydroponic greenhouse to grow greens for sale in area grocery stores. The site sits behind the Lunenburg Crossing shopping center on Massachusetts Avenue, with two anchor tenants, Hannaford and Walmart, among BrightFarm's clients. The project is estimated to create 60 jobs, receiving an eight-year tax break worth an estimated $1.6 million.
BrightFarms also has hydroponic greenhouses, which use far less space and water than traditional farms, in Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
In Sturbridge, Complete Cold Logistics, part of the company RLS Partners, is planning a $22-million, 83,000-square-foot cold storage facility to include 24 jobs. The town is planning to approve a 10-year tax agreement worth an estimated $1.7 million.
The vacant storefront incentive in Marlborough will give $5,100 in rental assistance from the city and $5,100 in refundable tax credits from the state to Dancing Orchid Soapworks, a handmade soap and bath products company. The company, which ships its goods worldwide, has outgrown a 490-square-foot second-floor space and is looking to expand into a ground-level vacant storefront in the city.
The six total business expansions approved for incentives Thursday are estimated to create a total of nearly 300 new jobs and $109 million in private investment, according to the state.
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As a citizen of lunenburg, I think that we should stand up. Way too much development has been happening, way too many houses have been being built. Walmart is a pretty big nuisance to my area of the town, since I live close to it. It is so loud, and them cutting down all the trees near it gives us a clear view of this ugly shopping center. Building an actual farm would probably be much preferred by the townfolks, because I am sure a lot of them would much rather go more rural than an industrial town covered in condos everywhere. They should have at least never cut down the trees on the side of the hill, because it really has no purpose. It just makes it so people that live next to the plaza having to see it, and having to see all the lights at night. There was a big patch of old growth pine trees next to Walmart, that hadn’t been cut down at all even when they built the plaza, and the greed of some people they cut it down. For some people, that woods wasn’t just trees next to their house. It was a beautiful area next to the house that let them see many natural things, like many birds, deer, turkey, bears, and rabbits. That woods was also something that let them connect, and see nature. Hearing all the bids, frogs, crickets was beautiful. They sang super loud, and it was very calming. It also let them see native trees and animals, while living very close to shopping centers. The woods is a very important thing, and it should not be replaced by an industrial greenhouse. This is the small town of Lunenburg, and it should stay small.
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