Worcester News

WBDC names old Saint-Gobain site in Worcester "GreenTech Park"

  • Posted by Worcester News Mar 19 - Filed in News - #Worcester  #Norton  #Greendale  #economic development  #WBDC  #Saint-Gobain  - 6,739 views

    WORCESTER — The Worcester Business Development Corporation has officially named its latest redevelopment project GreenTech Park, marking a major step in transforming the former northern campus of Saint-Gobain Abrasives into a hub for sustainable manufacturing.

    The name was announced Wednesday at the North Worcester Business Association’s monthly meeting at Norton Hall.

    WBDC acquired the 51-acre site in November 2022 as part of an initiative to modernize the outdated industrial property and drive economic growth.

    The multi-phase redevelopment includes environmental remediation and demolition of obsolete structures, with about 75% already cleared. The next steps will focus on infrastructure improvements, such as new roadways and upgraded public utilities.

    Once completed, GreenTech Park will feature pad-ready sites for advanced manufacturing, with buildings ranging from 50,000 to 450,000 square feet. WBDC is prioritizing tenants in high-tech, research and development, and sustainable industries.

    “This is the largest project in our 60-year history and marks a transformational moment for the WBDC,” President Craig Blais said. “GreenTech Park represents our commitment to sustainability, resiliency, and the future of manufacturing in Worcester.”

    Founded in 1965, the WBDC is a nonprofit dedicated to driving economic development in and around Worcester. Through innovative partnerships and strategic investments, the WBDC supports job creation, business growth, and the expansion of the local tax base.


    W.B.D.C. President Craig Blais discusses GreenTech Park to a large crowd at the monthly meeting of the North Worcester Business Association at Norton Hall (Mark Henderson)

    The WBDC announced in November 2021 that it was leading the Greendale Revitalization Project, according to an article on Patch.

    Saint-Gobain has given $12 million of the roughly $35 million that has been raised from the project, Blais said yesterday.

    Last year, the project was awarded $2.6 million from the U.S. Commerce Department and $2.8 million from the MassWorks Infrastructure Program.

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