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Town of Acton
Office of Economic Development
Business Boost
August 2026
| | | In This Edition You Will Find: | | 1) It Happened in Acton | | 2) Economic Development Introductions | | 3) Acton Business Scene | | 4) Commercial Property Spotlight | | 5) Seasonal Shopping | | 6) Grant Opportunities | | 7) Job Opportunities | | 8) Training and Workforce Development | | 9) Your Participation Matters | | 10) Business Quiz | | 11) Join the EDC | | 12) Community Events | | | A Letter from the Economic Development Director | | |
Dear Acton Community,
We start the second half of the year with exciting new retail options for Acton residents, including ALDI and Dollar Tree on Powder Mill Road, as well as Mobility City on Great Road. These new businesses add to the variety of products and services available in town and contribute to the continued evolution of Acton’s commercial corridors.
In this edition, you will find updates on upcoming events, business resources, and community initiatives. We are especially excited to continue building momentum around the Great Road Corridor and our upcoming Great Road Stroll on October 18. This will be a great opportunity for shoppers and residents to explore a stretch of Great Road on foot while interacting with local businesses and guest vendors and enjoying activities prepared to entertain the entire family.
A special thank you goes to our Acton-Boxborough volunteers, Aditya Narayan, Dev Walia, Eric Bian, Matthew Liu, and former AB high school student Adrian Kibuuka, who have been working with the Office of Economic Development to collect and analyze data that will help us better understand the profile, needs, and expectations of our business community. Their time and contributions are helping us build a stronger foundation for future initiatives and ensure that our efforts are informed by the businesses we serve.
Thank you to all of the businesses, organizations, and community members who continue to partner with the Office of Economic Development on our projects and campaigns. Whether you are an investor, a business owner, or a local shopper, you are part of a coordinated engine that moves Acton forward by promoting development, creating opportunities, and enhancing community well-being.
Sincerely,
Patricia Costa
Economic Development Director
To contact Patricia Costa, please email pcosta@actonma.gov or call (978) 929-6516.
| | | Remember to scroll down for Events and Business Quiz at the end of this edition! | |
Photo Credit: Jessica Cronin Photography | |
Nature Play Festival
On July 10th, the Discovery Museum hosted their second annual Nature Play Festival, offering activities like Treehouse Yoga, guided nature walks on the Great Hill Conservation Land, Invasive Plant Papermaking, Fire Starting with Owl Eyes Survival, and Bug Hunts.
The Museum was able to offer free admission to over 1,500 visitors thanks to generous support from Middlesex Savings Bank and Rockland Trust. The activities and logistics were greatly supported by businesses, nonprofits, and regional groups based in Acton and nearby, such as the Acton Memorial Library, Mass 350 MetroWest, First Connections, TimberNook, Farrington Nature Linc, and many more.
Check out their future events here!
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ALDI Grand Opening
ALDI is officially open for business at 100 Powder Mill Road, having been introduced to the community at the July 23rd ribbon cutting. The German-based grocery chain is known for its affordable groceries. We are excited for the jobs that it will bring to Acton, and are proud that they chose the town for their latest location.
| | | | 2) Economic Development Introductions | | | |
Trevor Neal
Trevor Neal was recently sworn in as the newest member of the Economic Development Committee for the Town of Acton.
A native of Tyngsborough, Neal is the Retail Manager for Post Road Carpet One of Acton, a family business, working there the last 10-15 years with his grandfather and uncle. He believes Acton is a great place to work and has enjoyed the connections he has made. Much of his business is done by worth-of-mouth.
Neal hopes to bring his young perspective to the Committee and is looking forward to finding ways for businessowners to work together to help everyone succeed. He is particularly interested in improving the vitality and connectivity of Great Road's business community.
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Nick started as the Outreach Assistant with the Office of Economic Development in late June. He grew up in Needham, MA, before going to Colby College ('25) in Maine, where he studied French and Global Studies. He has experience in Transportation Planning, Economic Development, and Community Engagement.
Nick is excited about the opportunity to join the Office and help promote the vitality of the town and facilitate a strong relationship between the town and its businesses. He is especially looking forward to the Great Road Stroll this Fall. He can be reached at nlacascia@acton-ma.gov.
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World Cup Storefront Contest Winner
Congratulations to Great Spaces, Inc., on winning the World Cup Storefront Contest! We would also like to acknowledge the participation of the Pesce Network Dunkin', Not Your Average Joe's, and Rockland Trust, and extend our thanks to our four jury panelists: Elizabeth Ames, Greg Jarboe, Ruth Bendig, and Zannah Noe.
| | | Abside Networks Ribbon Cutting & Interview with the CEO | | 100 Discovery Way, the new home of Abside Networks | | Abside Networks will be hosting a ribbon-cutting and welcome ceremony for their new location at 100 Discovery Way on August 13th. Congresswoman Lori Trahan and members of Acton's state delegation will be in attendance. To mark this occasion, we spoke with the Founder and CEO of Abside Networks, Laurent Perraud, to talk about Abside's business model and outlook for the future. | | | | |
Meet Abside Networks CEO, Laurent Perraud
Laurent Perraud is the Founder and CEO of Abside Networks, a Telecommunications company based in Acton. 14 years ago, Perraud founded the company out of his basement with $2,500 in capital. Originally from France, Perraud has a background in physics, chip design, and systems design.
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In 2017, the company moved into its first office at Knox Trail. As a vertical company, Abside produces the entire product itself - software, hardware, and manufacturing - and innovates at all levels. The company makes products for both civilian and defense use. Starting with their products being high-end and low-volume, they are now broadening their approach to include the higher-volume part of the spectrum.
Perraud notes that due to Acton's central location, Abside is able to attract talent from diverse areas of New England. Outgrowing the space at Knox Trail, Abside Networks relocated within Acton to 100 Discovery Way in late 2025, taking advantage of a job creation state grant in the form of tax credit.
Looking to the future, Perraud is ambitious and excited for his company's continued growth. Through fundraising, he is hoping that the company, now 35 employees, can expand to 100. Abside Networks is investing in producing its own chips and doing all manufacturing within the community. In the Telecoms industry, most manufacturing is done overseas in Asia. While manufacturing in Acton, Perraud is excited about the "diversity of employment" and integrated company culture that Abside has, bringing together hardware design, software writing, and manufacturing all in the same building.
Click here to see its website.
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Dollar Tree Opening
On Thursday, August 6th, a new Dollar Tree location opened its doors at 100 Powder Mill Road. It marks another major retail tenant in Powder Mill Plaza, following the opening of ALDI last month.
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Sparx Hockey Award
In July, Sparx Hockey, located at 30 Sudbury Road, was awarded the Red Dot Design Award for the Sparx Sharpener 3 and Sparx Beam™. Since 1955, the award has celebrated products that set new standards in design, with winners selected by an independent international jury. The device enables players, parents, coaches, equipment managers, and pro shops to achieve consistent high quality results.
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The fast-growing and innovative Sparx Hockey was founded in 2013 in Acton, and has been a leader in the field of skate sharpening technology and skate-related accessories ever since. We are proud to have such an innovator in our community!
Check out its website here.
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Muddy Water Coffee Truck
Starting August 25th, regional coffee maker Muddy Water Coffee Roasters will be operating a coffee truck out of the South Acton MBTA parking lot at 4 Central St from 6-8:30AM on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
Check out its website here.
| | | 4) Commercial Property Spotlight | | | |
436 Great Road
This property is located on Route 119, seeing traffic counts up to 15,000/day. Zoned for most traditional retail and office uses. Currently in shell form, ready to be reconfigured for a specific use. $4,155/month.
Tom Caldarone, Omni Properties
978-397-4227 / tom@omniproperties.com
Click here for the listing.
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100 Powder Mill Road
Located in the Powder Mill plaza, which was recently anchored by ALDI and soon to be by Dollar Tree. Rate available upon request.
Arlene Gray, Paramount Realty
717-569-9373 / agray@paramountrealty.com
Click here for the listing.
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125 Nagog Park
Ready-to-move-in suites available, suitable for professional services businesses, tech firms, and lab-based operations. Close proximity to amenities and transportation corridors. 4 suites available, $3,540 - $14,170/month.
Keith Gurtler, O'Brien Commercial Properties, Inc.
978-346-3098 / keith@obriencommercial.com
Click here for the listing.
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In Acton, you often do not need to leave town to get what you need.
Next time you are about to place an order online or do shopping out of Acton, consider shopping local.
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Summer Cookouts - Food & Kitchen
- Donelan's Supermarket - 248 Great Rd
- Cucurbit Farm - 32 Parker St
- Idylwilde Farm - 366 Central St
- Kitchen Outfitters - 342 Great Rd
- Ace Hardware - 210 Main St
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Back to School Shopping & Services
- Pedal Power - 176 Great Rd
- Silver Unicorn - 12 Spruce St
- Open Door Education - 492 Main St
- Russian School of Mathematics - 525 Main St
- Staples - 145 Great Rd
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Verizon’s Small Business Digital Ready Program
Verizon provides business owners with courses, live coaching, networking, and $10,000 grants.
Applications will be reviewed monthly from June through December 2026.
To learn more, click here.
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Principal/Senior Principal Remediation Engineer
Geosyntec is hiring a leading Remediation Engineer to join its New England Operations. This position is well-suited for a talented, highly experienced engineer who is interested in being a leader and contributing to innovative and challenging projects, including the financial and technical evaluation, design, permitting, and construction stages. Ideal candidates should have professional certification and 10-15 years of consulting and/or client-side experience.
289 Great Rd, Suite 202, Acton, MA
Click here for details
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Senior Program Manager
General Atomics is looking for a Senior Program Manager for Space EO/IR Payload efforts within our Optical Sensor System Group in Acton, MA. A Senior Program Manager for Space Payloads leads the development, testing, and delivery of space payloads, managing cross-functional teams, tracking budgets and schedules, and facilitating customer interaction and decision-making to ensure projects meet technical requirements and contractual obligations. Ideal candidates have advanced degrees in engineering or another technical field and at least thirteen years of progressively complex program administration experience.
42 Nagog Park, Acton, MA
Click here for details
| | 8) Training and Workforce Development | | |
Funding Your Business: Loans, Grants, Investors, and Bootstrapping
How to choose the right funding path. You’ll leave with a funding readiness checklist and a pitch-prep outline. Presented by Dr. David K. Ewen.
Register Here. In person event at the Springfield Central Library on Saturday, August 15, 2026, 1-2pm. Refreshments provided.
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Navigating Grief at Work: Offering Support and Working Through Loss
This webinar will share how to navigate loss in professional settings, whether you’re a business owner supporting a grieving employee, a colleague unsure of what to say, or someone trying to find your own footing after a loss.
Register Here. Webinar on September 2, 2026, at 12:00pm
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9) Your Participation Matters
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Acton Businesses Survey
The Acton-Boxborough Volunteers are currently conducting a survey with local business owners. This effort is designed to help the Town better understand the needs, challenges, and opportunities within our business community, so that future programs, resources, and initiatives can be more effectively tailored to support you.
If you are contacted by a volunteer, we kindly encourage you to participate. The survey takes no more than 15 minutes to complete, and your input will play an important role in shaping how the Town supports its local businesses moving forward.
Interested in participating? Click this link to access the online version, scan the QR code below, or reach out to Nick LaCascia if you would prefer an in-person interview.
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Last Edition:
What was the leather product called that was produced in this factory, which used to be located in South Acton?
Answer: Morocco
The Morocco Factory in South Acton is pictured to the right, in 1892. Morocco was a type of leather made from goatskins, suitable for high-end bookbinding, boot tops, and seat upholstery. The factory was operated by Charles Kimball. At one point, it was the largest manufacturer in Acton. In the early 1900s, the factory changed hands several times, producing ice cream pails, aluminum, and textiles, before eventually being torn down. Pieces of the building can be found in construction all over town.
To read more and for photo credit, click here.
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August Quiz:
The sport of Polo was all the rage in West Acton in the late 19th century at the site on the right - but instead of being played in a field with horses, as is typical, what kind of facility, known for its specialized footwear, was it played at?
a) Bowling Alley
b) Ice Skating Rink
c) Roller Skating Rink
d) Trampoline Park
(Photo Credit and Answer)
| | 11) Join the Economic Development Committee | |
Residents interested in contributing to Acton’s economic future are encouraged to apply for the Economic Development Committee (EDC). This volunteer committee plays a key role in supporting local businesses, attracting new economic opportunities, and guiding strategic initiatives that promote the town’s long-term vitality.
| | To learn about the latest discussions at EDC meetings, click here to read the minutes. | |
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Community Artwork with Sunanda Sahay
Local artist Sunanda Sahay will host a workshop to continue the painting of a community artwork featuring elements of sustainability. The painting was started at the Community Wellness Fair in June. The workshop is open to anyone age 16 and older.
Tuesday, August 18, 1:30-3:00PM at the Acton Memorial Library.
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Non-Profit Roundtable
Join for an engaging morning of collaboration, idea-sharing, and relationship-building. Whether you’re looking to strengthen partnerships, exchange best practices, or simply get inspired, this event is a great opportunity to connect and recharge your mission focus heading into the season.
Wednesday August 19 10-11:30AM in Shirley, MA.
Register Here
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How to Use AI in Your Job Search
Job seekers are using AI more than ever, and most of it is making things harder, not easier. In this session, recruiter Kelli Hrivnak breaks down exactly where AI genuinely helps in a job search and where it backfires, from sharpening a resume to turning an existing LinkedIn network into a real outreach list.
Wednesday, August 26th 9:30-10:30AM virtually.
Sign up here.
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Acton Back-to-School Playdate & School Supply Drive
Danny’s Place and Huntington Learning Center of Acton are teaming up to host a community back-to-school gathering for local elementary school families.
As Acton families prepare for a year of big transitions, this relaxed playdate will give kids a chance to meet new classmates and parents a chance to connect before the school year begins. The evening will include simple kid-friendly activities, a “memories & hopes” activity, and a school supply drive benefiting Acton elementary classrooms.
Thursday, August 27, 2026
5:00–7:00 PM
Gardner Field Playground, Mass Ave, Acton
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"Heartless Man" Installation
The YV Art Museum is announcing the installation of an art piece called "The Heartless Man," created by artist Yin Peet. It is 21 feet tall and made of fiberglass.
The opening reception will be held on Sunday, August 30 at 2PM at the museum (68 Quarry Rd), with a discussion led by the artist.
Admission to the museum is $15 regular, $10 for 65+ and under 14.
Click here for the Museum's website.
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Great Road Stroll
The Great Road Stroll is scheduled for Sunday October 18th, 10AM-2PM. The event will span an approximately 3/4-mile area north of the Concord Road rail trail entrance. There will be family-oriented activities and entertainment, tabling businesses and organizations, and a spotlight on the great businesses we have on Great Road. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase your business and take advantage of the pedestrian and bike traffic of the rail trail.
If you are interested in getting involved as a partner, a planner, or a sponsor, please email Patricia Costa at pcosta@acton-ma.gov.
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