Nearly 60 high-level government and business leaders gathered at the Marlborough Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) annual Founders Reception to celebrate a year of growth and successes.
Right to left: Massachusetts State Senator Jamie Eldridge, Marlborough Mayor Arthur Vigeant, and former Marlborough Mayor Nancy Stevens talk at MEDC Founders Reception
Massachusetts Senator Jamie Eldridge, State Representative Danielle Gregoire, Marlborough Mayor Arthur Vigeant, City Council President Patricia Pope and former Marlborough Mayor Nancy Stevens were among the officials, who attended the May 16th event at the Marlborough Country Club. Also present were key business leaders, like Atlantic Management’s President & CEO Joseph Zink, VHB’s Senior Vice President Douglas Landry, Riemer & Braunstein’s Senior Partner Robert Buckley and Massachusetts Office of Business Development’s MetroWest Regional Director Rob Anderson.
MEDC Chairman, Arthur Bergeron, gave the evening’s keynote speech, reflecting on 18 months of significant achievements for the organization and the city. He congratulated MEDC’s leadership and staff for helping to attract and secure the moves of leading retailer TJX Companies Inc. and life-sciences giant Quest Diagnostics into previously-vacant Marlborough business sites. These feats, Bergeron said, along with Boston Scientific’s headquarters relocation to Marlborough, to be completed by October of this year, will undoubtedly be major boosts to the local economy.
“These companies were not just looking for a great location for their businesses,” said Bergeron. “They were looking for a place where their employees can have a great quality of life. Marlborough already offers an enviable location and lifestyle, but we know there is more work to be done. We know, for example, that we still need an urban walking area and, over the next year, we will definitely figure out a formula to do that.”
Bergeron said the MEDC will also focus its future efforts on increasing sports tourism, by growing the city’s youth baseball league. In addition, he said, the MEDC will continue promoting the new Wayside District along Route 20 East, which is expected to improve property values and attract even more business to the City of Marlborough.
“The MEDC plays a vital role for local business and continues to drive the economic engine in the region,” said Senator Eldridge. “Businesses and organizations representing a broad array of industries that partner with MEDC have spurred revitalization and growth in Marlborough, positioning the city as a leader in fostering community development, job growth and economic prosperity.”
“The MEDC staff works extremely hard to showcase and promote our city. Thanks to their efforts, Marlborough is now looking at a very bright economic future,” said Mayor Vigeant. “ We also owe a debt of gratitude to the MEDC founders and contributors, whose vision and dedication helped make today’s success possible.”
Former Marlborough Mayor Nancy Stevens, who is currently serving as director of consumer affairs for The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, was one of the founding members of MEDC in 2006. At the time, the organization was known as the city’s redevelopment authority, “Marlborough 2010.” Stevens says that, over the years, the organization has become indispensible.
“MEDC has been instrumental to Marlborough’s recent economic success, and I am so proud to have been one of the founders of this essential organization,” Stevens said. “The MEDC staff has been working hard over the past few years and it shows. People don’t realize how much effort and time goes into economic development. There are projects that I started, while I was in office, that are only now coming to fruition. There is just no way we could have made so much progress without having a dedicated economic development and promotions arm for the City of Marlborough.”
One of the city’s more recent success stories began with the October 2011 purchase of the long-vacant former HP site off Route 495 by Framingham-based real estate investment firm, Atlantic Management. Just 18 months later, the site has been rezoned into an overlay district and has signed its first big long-term lease with Quest Diagnostics for a new laboratory facility expected to employ 1,200 people. Atlantic Management President & CEO Joseph Zink says he is excited about the potential of the new high-end mixed-use development, which will include 350 residential units, a major hotel operator and a number of commercial and retail outlets.
“Atlantic Management owns and operates 26 developments across the state, and Marlborough is definitely in our top 2 communities in terms of ease of doing business, infrastructure, and positive economic outlook,” Zink said. “MEDC has helped us every step of the way, and we are very grateful to have them on our side, as we continue to develop our project in Marlborough.”
“It is important to recognize the fantastic work of MEDC,” said Richard Tomanek, MEDC Vice Chair and General Manager of Embassy Suites. “Eighty percent of what they do is economic development, which ultimately stabilizes the residential tax rate. We can all be incredibly proud of what’s happening at the MEDC.”
# # #
About MEDC:
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. We work with municipal and private investors to foster economic development, job growth and community revitalization and development.
For a complete overview of MEDC’s activities visit MarlboroughEDC.com
Recent Comments