EDIC Hosts Webinar on Framingham’s Commercial Space, MassBay Breaks Ground on New Campus, Getting Ready for Winter and More! The Choose Framingham Newsletter

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Monthly Newsletter

October 31, 2021 | In This Issue

Interest in Commercial Space in MetroWest is Growing But Challenges Remain

EDIC-Sponsored Webinar Looks at Commercial Space in MetroWest

There is significant interest in the commercial space in the MetroWest and surrounding region, especially compared to 2019, according to a webinar presentation given by Peter Abair, executive director of MassEcon. Abair also noted in the webinar that there is continued heightened interest in finding laboratory space for Life Sciences companies, including in MetroWest, especially because there is little lab space vacancy left in Boston and Cambridge. The virtual event - MetroWest Commercial Space – What’s Next? – was hosted by Framingham’s Economic Development and Industrial Corporation (EDIC) on October 28^th. The video of the webinar is available at the City of Framingham’s YouTube channel.

While there are tremendous opportunities, the virtual event panelists, which included the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce’s deputy director Stephanie Hirshon; Garry Holmes, president of R.W. Holmes Realty Co Inc.; and Charlotte Maynard, managing partner at Creative Development Co. LLC also outlined the challenges that are facing the region when it comes to commercial development. Those include increased costs, questions about the City’s corporate tax rate, and a need for reasonably-priced housing.

EDIC Board chair Doug Lawrence moderated the panel discussion, and Framingham Mayor Yvonne Spicer was on hand to welcome the panelists and participants and offer insights into the City’s economic development efforts. More than 30 individuals from around the region participated in the event. You can watch the commercial space webinar here.

Winter is Coming! Finding Ways to be Active in Framingham this Winter

It’s autumn, so we all know what that means – winter is coming. We know you, our readers, are preparing for the upcoming winter, and so we thought the information below would help you get prepared for the months ahead.

Stay Active this Winter

Below are some ideas for you and your family if you are looking for winter activities in Framingham:

Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing: The City’s Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs Division creates cross-country ski and snowshoeing trails at various passive parks in Framingham. The locations where this is available right now are Cushing Memorial Park, Farm Pond Park, and Macomber Reservation. Click here to learn if more locations have become available and check out the trail’s rules.

Public ice skating at Loring Arena: The arena is currently open at 165 Fountain Street for ice skating. The admission fee is $5, and skate rentals are only available from the skate shop on weekends, some holidays, and school vacation weeks for $6. For more information click here.

Walking paths:

Callahan State Park is primarily used for hiking, horseback riding and walking. It also offers acres of open fields and ponds, along with 7 miles of marked trails and a dog park.

Cushing Memorial Park offers more than 50 acres of land, miles of walking and running paths, a children's playground, picnic tables and benches.

Get in Winter Gear

For these activities, and to have fun this winter, the right winter gear is necessary. See below some options in Framingham to find what you are looking for to stay warm and active over the next several months.

Rack Attack has all kinds of vehicle racks including ski racks and snowboard racks. Their team installs the racks they sell and also sell and install trailer hitches. To learn more, click here.

Red Rover Clothing creates outerwear, accessories, and blankets – for children and adults – made from warm, lightweight, and washable Polartec® fleeces and rainwear fabrics. To find their products, click here.

REI sells all kinds of clothing, equipment, and accessories for outdoor adventures. Click here to find their hours of operations and services in Framingham.

SIERRA offers a wide variety of top brands for outdoor gear, apparel, footwear, and more. Click here for store information.

Ski Haus has ski and snowboard equipment, as well as clothing and accessories for the winter season. Click here to learn more.

MassBay Community College Holds Groundbreaking Celebration for New Framingham-Based Academic Center

In September, MassBay Community College held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new MassBay Center for Health Sciences, Early Childhood, and Human Services, which will be located in the Mt. Wayte section of Framingham. The 68,500 square foot facility will begin hosting classes in September 2023.

“We are delighted that MassBay will have a building specifically designed to suit our needs at last,” said MassBay President Dr. David Podell in a press release regarding the event. “This new facility will enable us to expand our partnerships, develop more skilled employees for the regional workforce, and provide an affordable education in state-of-the-art labs and classrooms. We will now have a permanent home in the City of Framingham. It is a major step forward for our institution, for Framingham, and for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”

The net-zero designed building, which will be located at the corner of Franklin and Mt. Wayte Streets, is the first facility constructed specifically for MassBay Community College in its 60-year history. One of 15 community colleges in the Commonwealth, MassBay serves an estimated 6,000 students, both full- and part-time, from across Greater Boston and the MetroWest area.

“Today’s groundbreaking is an exciting moment for MassBay Community College and for the entire Commonwealth,” said Governor Charlie Baker in the statement. “Our administration is proud to support this project through the Commonwealth’s capital budget and we look forward to the impact that this new campus will have on MassBay’s important educational programming in key fields like health care and the health sciences.”

MassBay Community College is currently leasing space at the Farley School in Framingham. The new building will take the place of that facility once it opens in summer 2023.

“It’s exciting to see MassBay Community College join Framingham State University and establish a permanent place in Framingham,” said Erika Oliver Jerram, the Acting Director of the City’s Division of Planning & Community Development. “The new center’s focus on health sciences, early childhood education, and human services will benefit the community and the region.”

MassDevelopment Provides Grant to Framingham Makerspace

Framingham Makerspace recently received its second grant from MassDevelopment. The $99,781 award from the Commonwealth’s public/private agency focused on stimulating business and driving economic growth will help support the organization’s expansion.

Choose Framingham profiled Framingham Makerspace in March 2017, shortly after the non-profit, volunteer run organization opened in the Saxonville Mills complex. “I really want to see what happens when you get artists and technical people together, see that intersection, what comes out of it,” Makerspace co-founder David Kent told Choose Framingham at the time.

The Makerspace is in the process of expanding to 7,000 square feet, which will allow the organization to host four studios, dedicated space for sewing machines, and equipment like a computer controlled knitting machine called the Kniterate, and a quilting machine that accommodates large fabric creations.

For more information about the grant and to learn more about the Framingham Makerspace, please visit them at their website.

Learn About the 10 Steps to Business Success at Small Business Workshop on November 8

On Monday, November 8^th, Framingham’s Planning & Community Development division will host a workshop with the Framingham Marketing Group (FMG), who will be sharing their expertise on growing small businesses. The virtual, 60-minute event, will take place from 6:30 to 7:30 PM. Those interested in attending the “10 Steps to Business Success” Small Business Workshop can register here.

Participants will include:

Wayne Arthur, Speed Pro - Graphics & Signage
Bill Bluestein, Bilmar Sales - Promo Products
Nancy Cantor, Cantor Consulting - Business Coach
Kathleen DelPrete, DelPrete Consulting - Marketing
Ethan Gordon, Gordon Multimedia - Web & SEO
Adam Greene, Green Lens Media - Video Production
Travers King, Northern Lights Entertainment - Events
Rob Levine, Levine Design & Illustration - Branding/Design
Teddy Sullivan, Scorpion Printing - Print
Chris Woolf, The Voice Depot - Voiceover Services

The virtual workshop is free and open to all businesses in Framingham. You can register here and learn more about the Framingham Marketing Group at their website.

Irving Street Park Grand Opening

What was once an unused lot became a ‘pocket park’ after two years of construction and the City of Framingham celebrated its grand opening at 150 Irving Street on October 12^th. The project began in October 2018 when the then-Division of Community & Economic Development and the Department of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs hosted a public workshop to “bring together neighborhood residents, employees, businesses, organizations, and interested members of the public to generate and discuss design alternatives for [the park],” according to the project page at the City of Framingham’s website.

To find the funds to move forward with the project, the City of Framingham collected over $100,000 thanks to a Patronicity crowdfunding campaign, and received a $50,000 matching grant from MassDevelopment. As their crowdfunding page says, the goal of this park is to give a recreational space for underserved populations and people from all ages in a dense urban neighborhood. The Park is located at the intersection of a busy two-way street that connects Downtown to Southside neighborhoods. To learn more about this project, click here.