10 Worcester Business Development Corporation • 1965 - 2015
WBDC's
History:
A Tale of
Revitalization
I
f you take a walking tour of Worces-
ter, you'll notice a number of pres-
tigious names atop street signs,
municipal and arts buildings and ac-
ademic institutions. Ichabod Wash-
burn, Stephen Salisbury, Joshua Stod-
dard, John Boynton and Charles Morgan
are just a few prominent individuals whose
innovation and experimentation, as well as
investments of time, energy and funding,
served as a catalyst for economic growth
in Worcester during the 19th century. At
that time, the City became a well-known
manufacturing hub, generating revenue
and jobs.
July 21, 1965
Governor John Volpe
signed the act that created
the Worcester Business
Development Corporation.
Spring 1966
The WBDC received a
14.5-acre gift of land from
the Norton Company on
which it built the Higgins
Industrial Park.
The WBDC began planning its
first suburban project, Holden
Industrial Park.
The Worcester Center
Galleria opened.
The WBDC purchased 88
acres of land in West Boylston
to construct an industrial
park between Hartwell and
Shrewsbury Streets.
June 1976
City Manager Francis McGrath
designated the WBDC to be
the sole marketing agent for
the Airport Industrial Park, a
170-acre property that paved
the way for more than 1 million
square feet of industrial
space in Worcester.
1965 1968 1973
1966 1971
*
1976
WBDC Timeline
