I’m rounding up some recent news on business and economic development in Southborough. Stories include two addiction recovery centers that recently opened in Southborough, a business has purchased Route 9 properties that some residents have been hoping would be put to better use, and the Town has helped small local businesses get federal aid.
It also includes the Town’s longshot plans to reach out to Amazon to solicit mitigation funds for potential traffic issues due to a new facility being built just over our border – and/or to encourage them to invest in properties in our Town.
“Two facilities, one purpose. Addiction recovery centers open in Southborough” – Metrowest Daily News, December 27, 2021
Two facilities with similar services have both opened in same business park area off of Route 9 East in Southborough.
In just a few months, two centers designed to help people recover from substance abuse have opened across the street from one another.
Northstar Recovery Center, at 132 Turnpike Road (Route 9), opened in October and Paramount Recovery Centers, at 120 Turnpike Road, opened earlier this month.
“There was much need in the state’s eyes for services in the MetroWest area,” said Jeff Chasen, director of business development at Northstar. (read more)
Southborough hopes to discuss collaboration, mitigation funds with Amazon – Community Advocate, January 10, 2022
Last week, Board of Selectmen Chair Lisa Braccio referred to the likelihood that a distribution center Amazon is permitted to open on Computer Drive in Westborough will add to our town’s traffic woes. She raised the possibility of pursuing financial compensation from Amazon, though she acknowledged it may be too late. The Board’s conversation evolved to the possibility of reaching out to Amazon directly with a more friendly offer to find out if there are ways the Town and Amazon can help each other.
The Community Advocate covered the discussion. You can read their recap here.
The redevelopment sites at 241 and 245 Turnpike Road have been sold – Economic Development Committee’s December 2021 Update
The EDC issued its December 2021 Update. Most of the news included are items I’ve previously covered in other stories. News I hadn’t, included a bullet that may be welcome to those who have complained about long abandoned buildings on Route 9 being an eyesore.
In December, grapevine news revealed the possibility that a business was considering purchasing the lots and knocking down the old Andrea restaurant and the abutting stone faced building to build a warehouses. The EDC’s update on the sale going through states that the new owners, Transatlantic Investment Management Inc., plan to use it “for the development of luxury car condos”. (Frankly, I’d never heard of those. You can read about the concept in Wikipedia.)
Micro Enterprice Grant update – Economic Development Committee’s December 2021 Update
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), made available by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), is a federally funded program, created to assist micro-enterprises with emergency needs during the COVID-19 crisis. Southborough participated in a regional application with 23 communities in cooperation with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC).
- The last round of funding was finalized in December 2021.
- Southborough awarded 12 grants worth $155,000 to local small businesses (microenterprises)
- Some feedback from Southborough microenterprise grant recipients:
“The grant couldn’t have come at a better time, our computer crashed so we needed to upgrade, then the upgrade wasn’t compatible with our color copier, so we ended up getting a rebuilt copier. Without the grant, I would have considered closing our doors. Thanks again for all your help!” (read more)
[Note: Some readers may have missed EDC’s other news I covered in past stories. You can read their full update here.]
Luxury car condos?! How about ‘people’ condos? or just a ‘luxury’ restaurant? Of all the possibilities that’s what we end up with? We are a bizarre society…