SUTTON — For once, it has paid off to think
inside the box.
Atlas Box & Crating Co. at 38 Providence Road, which makes customized cardboard boxes and wooden crates, will benefit from a $500,000 grant from the state’s Massachusetts Opportunity Relocation and Expansion program.
The grant will be given to the town to improve water, sewer, and public roadway infrastructure. The improvements will facilitate Atlas Box’s proposed 225,000-square-foot relocation and expansion on Route 146 north, near the Boston Road intersection.
Gov. Deval L. Patrick announced the grant award yesterday, and said the MORE grants are designed to assist towns with infrastructure improvements to keep existing businesses local and attract new businesses.
“It’s based on the philosophy that you create the conditions,” Gov. Patrick said in a conference call yesterday.
He said the MORE program is part of an overall economic stimulus plan. He said there is $24 million set aside for the program, and several grants to other communities already have been awarded. He said the MORE program also fits within his overall strategy to promote the life sciences industry and clean energy industry.
The grant will help finance construction of acceleration and deceleration lanes along Route 146 in the area, and will allow for improvements to water and sewer lines in the area. It will help finance an upgrade to the Boston Road traffic lights to allow for easier crossings for emergency personnel.
Town Planning Coordinator Jennifer S. Hager said yesterday that the town jointly applied for the grant with Atlas Box and the developers of Cold Spring Brook Place, a planned retail development near the Atlas Box site that is slated to include a 117,000-square-foot Lowe’s Home Improvement store, a Pub 99 restaurant, and a McDonald’s fast-food restaurant. Both Atlas Box and Lowe’s have signed tax increment financing deals with the town.
Gov. Patrick said towns must show a need for infrastructure improvements, and must demonstrate that they will attract economic development. He said that keeping manufacturing operations such as Atlas in the area is important, and said Atlas officials say the move from Providence Road to Route 146 will create about 100 jobs. He said creating economic growth is difficult, but with the MORE grants, local communities are allowed to take the lead.
“(Infrastructure) is the first thing we have to do to retain companies,” Gov. Patrick said. “These tools enable us to do that.”
Calls to Atlas Box were not immediately returned yesterday.
Atlas Box & Crating Co. at 38 Providence Road, which makes customized cardboard boxes and wooden crates, will benefit from a $500,000 grant from the state’s Massachusetts Opportunity Relocation and Expansion program.
The grant will be given to the town to improve water, sewer, and public roadway infrastructure. The improvements will facilitate Atlas Box’s proposed 225,000-square-foot relocation and expansion on Route 146 north, near the Boston Road intersection.
Gov. Deval L. Patrick announced the grant award yesterday, and said the MORE grants are designed to assist towns with infrastructure improvements to keep existing businesses local and attract new businesses.
“It’s based on the philosophy that you create the conditions,” Gov. Patrick said in a conference call yesterday.
He said the MORE program is part of an overall economic stimulus plan. He said there is $24 million set aside for the program, and several grants to other communities already have been awarded. He said the MORE program also fits within his overall strategy to promote the life sciences industry and clean energy industry.
The grant will help finance construction of acceleration and deceleration lanes along Route 146 in the area, and will allow for improvements to water and sewer lines in the area. It will help finance an upgrade to the Boston Road traffic lights to allow for easier crossings for emergency personnel.
Town Planning Coordinator Jennifer S. Hager said yesterday that the town jointly applied for the grant with Atlas Box and the developers of Cold Spring Brook Place, a planned retail development near the Atlas Box site that is slated to include a 117,000-square-foot Lowe’s Home Improvement store, a Pub 99 restaurant, and a McDonald’s fast-food restaurant. Both Atlas Box and Lowe’s have signed tax increment financing deals with the town.
Gov. Patrick said towns must show a need for infrastructure improvements, and must demonstrate that they will attract economic development. He said that keeping manufacturing operations such as Atlas in the area is important, and said Atlas officials say the move from Providence Road to Route 146 will create about 100 jobs. He said creating economic growth is difficult, but with the MORE grants, local communities are allowed to take the lead.
“(Infrastructure) is the first thing we have to do to retain companies,” Gov. Patrick said. “These tools enable us to do that.”
Calls to Atlas Box were not immediately returned yesterday.
