Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | May 13, 2019 | Worcester Business Journal 15 DESIGN SERVICES SUPPORTING: - Grow Facilities - Retail Facilities - Building Envelope Studies - Due Diligence Studies - Local Approvals - Coordination with Cannabis Commissions Cannabis Commissions PHOTO/ZACHARY COMEAU T H E B U S I N E S S O F M A R I J U A N A F O C U S W Marijuana entreprenuers Kevin MacConnell (left) and Tim Phillips got their start in Colorado but plan on opening a cannabis growing and manufacturing company in Uxbridge, which is Phillips' hometown. – the latter an Uxbridge native – found a willing partner community in Uxbridge. "At the time, I remember other towns were further behind than Uxbridge in the process," MacConnell said. Other towns "were still trying to agree if they wanted recreational or agreed to recre- ational and hadn't zoned off areas yet." Even in a part of the state known as one of the more conservative areas of New England, officials have expressed their support for the new businesses. "It's a diamond in the rough," Phillips said of his hometown officials' view on the industry and hopes the revenue can help the town fix its financials. Vibrancy starting to return For other small Central Massachu- setts areas, recreational weed could bring a boost to the former mill and factory towns that once powered the centuries-old industrial economy. According to CCC data, Worces- ter County had 91 applications for a marijuana business license at the end of April, more than double the next high- est region in Berkshire County with 40. In the North Central town of Athol, a cultivator is in the midst of a redevel- opment project to outfit a long-vacant 360,000-square-foot mill building. MassGrow LLC purchased the former Union Twist Drill building for $1.15 million in August and is investing $20 million for renovations. In its hey- day, Union Twist employed 700 at the factory. MassGrow has said it will hire up to 150 employees within 18 months of beginning operations. In total, Athol has approved one other cultivator and is in talks with another. e town has given local approval to two retailers and a cannabis testing laboratory. Union Twist's departure in the 1980s led to an economic depression in town that pervaded for a few decades, but the town had made significant prog- ress over the last 10 years, including 300,000-square-feet of new development including restaurants, retail, offices. Plans are in the works for a new hotel. e town isn't relying on the mar- ijuana industry for new growth; but it's inevitably coming, and the town is welcoming those firms with open arms, said Town Manager Shaun Suhoski. "Our planning and select boards were at the forefront of providing a zoning and regulatory framework that would welcome the new industry," Suhoski said. "My staff and permitting team are here to assist responsible developers through consistent and timely reviews and approvals." When Suhoski started working in Athol in 2014, he made a list of top priorities for economic development. Getting someone new in the Union Twist building was third. "e four floors are lit up at night during construction," said Suhoski. "e community sees the vibrancy starting to return to that site."

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