Selectmen Candidates Q&A: Bringing New Business To Tewksbury

(Editor's note: This is the third and final part of our Q&A series with candidates for the Board of Selectmen -- incumbent Todd Johnson and challengers, Mary Ellen Fernald, Rick Menard Bob Marcin, Jim Wentworth and Ken Miano.)

Question 3: Is the town being aggressive enough in pursuing companies to locate in Tewksbury and what steps would you take to bolster economic development?

Jim Wentworth

Our greatest opportunity to continue to grow and prosper as a town is to focus on Economic Development and increase our Commercial and Industrial tax base. We have made progress by being designated as an Economic Target Area, Green Community and being able to provide tax incentives to new business. I would like to be more aggressive in our marketing to large business to make Tewksbury their destination for growth. This includes reaching out to those companies directly rather than waiting for them to come to us.

Just like the Route 3 Corridor Group (Bedford, Billerica, Burlington, Chelmsford, and Lowell), I would like to partner with the leaders of Andover and Wilmington to market our communities as destination locations for new business. There is strength in numbers and by partnering with other communities, Tewksbury can broaden its reach and become much more attractive as an Economic Development area.

I would also like to see the tax incentives that we offer to new businesses, be offered to our current businesses in town if they are looking to expand. Retention of our existing businesses is equally important as bringing in new business. Our focus on top-line revenue for the town is the most effective way to continue to pay down our existing debts while keeping an eye on future improvements and developments within Tewksbury.  

Rick Menard

Our Town has an Economic Development Committee that has done solid work so far.  Getting Thermo Fisher on board two years ago was a great first step that needs to be followed up.

Our State has helped us in targeting us for Economic Development and we are now listed as Gold Status Community by the Mass Biotech Council.  We need to be sure the Board helps guide our EDC toward the next step in bringing businesses to our community.

We should follow the lead of private ventures, like Cresa Boston, to find areas where we are falling short in bringing companies to town, especially when compared to Burlington and Billerica who continue to build along Rt.3 while we have vacant offices.  We also need to be wary of taxing out our small businesses as well.  We have one of the highest tax rates in the area and have increased the tax burden even more through our last revaluation.

I spoke to one small businessman who said his value was just upped $20,000 and his tax rates have risen by almost $6 per thousand since his last revaluation! Needless to say, he is looking to move his small business out of town like so many before him.  These are still tough times and our EDC needs to take advantage of State support as much as possible for increased credits and infrastructure improvements.

Our Board needs to work with our State and Federal Elected Officials to build a strong rapport and help get us to the next level of commerce.

Ken Miano

As a taxpayer, on the outside looking in, I would say the answer to that is absolutely no! Too many times I have heard from business people on how hard it is to do business in Tewksbury. When pressed, they could not put their finger on any one item, only a general statement of a multitude of hurdles to overcome. What that means, I am not really sure but I am very interested in learning how the gateway to business in our community is being manned. If it is as simple as their perception, then we need to be proactive in changing that.

We need to identify potential parcels that we would like to promote business on. Then identify what type of business that would complement our town. From there, contact those various potential business types and possibly work together to reach mutually satisfying goals in order to bring them in. Tax incentives for them to commit to our town. Jobs for Tewksbury residents in return for continued tax incentives. Why should we continue to leave a property empty when we can fill it, even if it means at a cheaper rate, and to provide jobs for Tewksbury.

Mary Ellen Fernald

We need to work with the state to see what benefits we can get to offer small businesses  to come   and set up in our town. We need to see how we can make Tewksbury a value added partner to potential businesses, if they were to come here.

Todd Johnson

The economy over the last few years hurt business everywhere.  Tewksbury is no exception.  Nonetheless, economic development is a never-ending effort requiring constant focus. 

During my tenure, we established the Economic Development Committee to bring a focus to our efforts.  In addition, we've charged our community development director and town manager with responsibility to ramp up our efforts internally and externally.  We have held multiple discussions with property holders, potential developers, and businesses.  Those efforts continue.

We have published an extensive brochure about Tewksbury to use in marketing efforts.  We have secured Bio-ready status to attract Bio-tech companies.  We became an Economic Target Area and initiated our first tax increment finance program (TIF) that resulted in a large employer relocating here with hundreds of jobs. 500,000 square feet at Riverview Place on Woburn Street is now under renovation.  We continue to work on the development of Lowell Junction off Route 93 with the condition that no direct highway access to South Tewksbury be involved.  Ocean State Job Lot and Merrimack Valley Pavilion opened.

All of the above occurred during a poor economy.  We obviously have much to do, but the foundation is in place as the economy improves.  Businesses look to the quality of infrastructure, schools, housing, and proximity to major highways when locating. We need to maintain our commitment to improving all aspects of Tewksbury, including help for existing employers, so we will be well positioned for future opportunities.  Continued strategic planning and discipline is the key.

Robert Marcin

Mr. Marcin chose not to submit an answer to this question.