Marlborough commercial vacancy and unemployment rates hit historic lows
Marlborough, MASS. January 24, 2018 – More than 20 companies moved to or expanded in Marlborough in 2018, together occupying over 250,000 SF of commercial space and creating upwards of 350 jobs. This is according to the Marlborough Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) 2018 Annual Report released at the organization’s annual Board of Directors meeting held at the Courtyard by Marriott yesterday.
Marlborough’s unemployment rate fell to an 18-year low of 2.2% in November, and returned to 2.5% in December, tracking eight-tenths of a percentage point below the state rate of 3.3% and 1.4 percentage points below the national rate of 3.9%.
The overall commercial vacancy rate continued to slide, falling to a decade low of 9% in 2018, according to Regional Resource Group. MEDC’s last recorded commercial vacancy rate was in 2009, when it sat 26 percentage points higher, at 35%, according to Colliers International.
Some of Marlborough’s largest new move-ins, together occupying more than 150,000 SF, include Allegro Microsystems and ExaGrid, which relocated their headquarters to the city, and Repligen, which opened a new manufacturing facility here. A number of small businesses also opened for business in the city, including Brew Coffee Bean, Vin Bin West and Downtown Marlborough’s first brewpub, Flying Dreams Brewing Co.
“Commercial space is running out in Marlborough and that’s a good thing,” MEDC executive director, Meredith Harris, wrote in her introduction in the MEDC 2018 Annual Report. “We’ve been sowing the seeds of economic development and are now reaping the benefits of a strong commercial base, increasing demand from developers, enhanced amenities and the area’s lowest residential tax rate.”
At 14.07%, Marlborough’s 2019 residential property tax rate is lower than any of the city’s neighboring communities. $3,486,714 of new growth, which represents new developments of residential, commercial and industrial real estate, was applied to the city’s levy limit in 2019. The Local Option Rooms Revenue, part of which is used to fund MEDC, was up by more than 8% in 2018 to reach $2,721,453. The Local Option Meals Revenue, all of which goes towards improvements of the city’s parks and fields, rose by nearly 14% to $1,029,034.
At yesterday’s meeting, Harris presented these and many of the MEDC 2018 Annual Report’s other highlights, including the organization’s efforts to revitalize the Downtown and French Hill areas, attract more modern amenities to Marlborough and create a unified branding strategy for the city. She also emphasized MEDC’s goals for the year ahead, which will continue to focus on promoting Marlborough’s business-friendly climate, improving connectivity and transportation options, attracting amenities and events to serve the local community and revitalizing opportunity areas across the city.
During the meeting, the MEDC board elected and confirmed the following new members: Christopher Horblit – Vice President, Workplace Services, TJX Companies; Katrina Iserman – Director, State Government Affairs, Sunovion; John Logomasini – Owner, Chill Kitchen & Bar; Michael Rodrigues – Chair, Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce; and Daniel Stanhope – Partner, AAFCPAs.
The following board members are returning to serve the MEDC for another term: Andrea Pion, Anthony Kotarski, Mayor Arthur G. Vigeant, Brian Bouvier, Chris Berglund, David J. Walton, David K. McCay, Dean Dorazio, Diane C. Mohieldin-Schwartz, Doug Kehlhem, Ellen Carlucci, Greg Mitrakas, Esq., Joe Santos, Kevin Malloy, Michael Murphy, Michael Ossing, Richard Tomanek, Tom Clay, Wes Tuttle, William M. Pezzoni.
View or download the full MEDC 2018 Annual Report at https://marlboroughedc.com/annual-report/.
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About MEDC:
The Marlborough Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is the state chartered economic development corporation for the City of Marlborough, MA and represents a public-private partnership for planning. MEDC works with municipal and private investors to foster economic development, job growth and community revitalization. For a complete overview of MEDC visit MarlboroughEDC.com.
For press inquiries, contact:
Lora Markova
Communications Director, MEDC
press@marlboroughedc.com
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