Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | November 7, 2016 | Worcester Business Journal 9 W Introducing Central Mass BUSINESS LEADS e-newsletter! A new offering from the Worcester Business Journal - sign up today to receive detailed information on hundreds of companies in the region that have incorporated within the past quarter, in a searchable, easy-to-use format. Each month, these leads will give you the opportunity to reach new and emerging business leaders seeking to establish themselves in the community with new partnerships and contracts. Stay ahead of your competition by reaching new clients! Worcester Business Journal WBJ Business LEADS The first Central Mass Business Leads E-newsletter will be sent out on November 14. Normally $500 annually or $50 for one month's worth of leads, we're offering a FREE TRIAL of this valuable E-newsletter through the end of December. Take advantage of this offer while it lasts and sign up today for this valuable resource! wbjournal.com/leads Looking for a host offering Four Diamond hospitality in a central, convenient location? Well... Offering space for 5 to 300 guests, world-class cuisine and Central Massachusett's only AAA Four Diamond approval rating, we host exceptional meetings and dinners of all sizes. Let's meet. 363 PLANTATION ST • WORCESTER • 508.754.5789 • BEECHWOODHOTEL.COM Can't fit modern manufacturing in old facilities "I find there is a great need for good industrial sites in Worcester, so that is where we are concentrating our effort." James Chacharone, founder of Chacharone Properties in Worcester. Chacharone is developing the Table Talk project and is so bullish on mod- ern manufacturing facili- ties in the city that his company purchased the last lot in the industrial park for $65,000 in order to build a 7,500-square- foot manufacturing space. There is no buyer lined up – but according to Chacharone, who is also building another 8,000 square-foot space at SWIP – this is a build- it-and-they-will-come situation. SWIP is an 11-acre brownfield site that used to house uses such as metal casting and auto salvage. The project has involved years of demolition, cleanup and improve- ments to create made pad-ready for light manufacturing, industrial and commercial uses. From the beginning of the project, this local impact was part of the equa- tion, said Ron Charette, executive director of the South Worcester Neighborhood Improvement Corp. The organization has been pushing for the revitalization and clean up of the land so that it could benefit the neigh- borhood not only through new use but the local jobs that would follow. Table Talk's location is being built- to-suit because Kokkinis could not find an existing building in Worcester that met the company's modern needs. Kokkonis was shocked at the lack of appropriate buildings for modern manufacturing in the city, thinking that there must be something appro- priate in the existing stock of industri- al buildings before starting that search. "We spent four months trying to find a building here in Worcester … I thought it was going to be easy to find good manufacturing space," said Kokkinis.. "For modern manufactur- ing, it's having that space and openness – wide bays, tall ceilings and one floor. There are a lot of buildings here that don't have that." Fitting modern manufacturing into older buildings is often impossible due to manufacturing needs, said Paul Morano, the director of business and community development for the city. "We have shown over the last year now that if you build new manufactur- ing sites, you will find tenants," Morano said making reference to the 150 Blackstone River Road develop- ment with 600,000 square feet of man- ufacturing and warehouse space that is 100 percent leased. Building employee base locally "This is another example of how we are paying attention to our neighbor- hoods. Jobs and economic development are not just downtown. They are across the city." City Manager Ed Augustus. Helping to build the bridge between Table Talk's needs and the local work- force will be the Worcester Jobs Fund. In the past, the organization has hosted job fairs that matched Worcester resi- dents with upcoming positions at busi- nesses under construction, but with Table Talk, the fund will build up the employee base through two rounds of job trainings. The Table Talk factory will require an additional 50 employ- ees once completed, with 30 moving over from the company's Washington Street location. The two- phase training program from the city is aimed at preparing around 40 of those employees, with wages starting around $15 an hour. That these employees will be able to walk to work and come directly from the neigh- borhood is a pivotal fac- tor, as transportation can be a huge barrier to employment for many in this wage range, said Kelsey Lamoureux, the director of the Worcester Jobs Fund. Holistic growth "This is going to be real jobs for our community. It's not just about a compa- ny. It's not just about a building. It's about true community. So this is a per- fect fit for this neighborhood." District 4 City Councilor Sarai Rivera said. While many projects are about jobs or putting properties to better use, this project combines them all in a holistic buildout that will boost the entire neighborhood, Rivera said. The new business increases the city's tax base, while generating jobs that improve the surrounding neighborhood. "It is not only for the individual but it becomes economic growth for the community. That person is able to pay their rent, purchase in stores, eat in restaurants and become home owners," Sarai said. since the first meeting was held to start the revitalization of the South Worcester Industrial Park. The development is now fully sold. 22 years P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y

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