Press Release  Massachusetts’ Economic Assistance Coordinating Council Approves Eight Projects to Create and Retain 1,650 Jobs

BOSTON — The Massachusetts’ Economic Assistance Coordinating Council (EACC) has approved eight projects for participation in the Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP), which seeks to create new jobs and help businesses grow by offering credits to lower taxes in exchange for job creation.   

The projects are expected to create 778 net new jobs and retain 877 jobs throughout Massachusetts, receive $2,267,500 in state tax credits, and leverage approximately $1 billion in private investment. Of the applicants this quarter, five are manufacturers and three are in Gateway Cities. Additionally, the EACC approved two new Vacant Storefront Districts and one new Vacant Storefront Project that will receive refundable tax credits of $10,000.  

“The Healey-Driscoll administration is committed to making Massachusetts the best place for businesses to call home,” said Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao. “These incentives will provide companies with valuable resources to expand facilities, create jobs, and invest in their communities. We’re pleased to offer this support through programs in the Economic Assistance Coordinating Council.” 

“Massachusetts is here to help businesses foster growth and achieve their economic objectives,” said Undersecretary of Economic Foundations Ashley Stolba. “We are proud that these Economic Development Incentive Program investments will provide resources to companies that want to bolster our state’s job growth and economic growth.” 

The projects include:  

EDIP Certified Projects:

EDIP is designed to foster job creation and stimulate business growth. A company that participates in EDIP may receive state tax credits and/or local property tax incentives in exchange for a commitment to new job creation, existing job retention, and private investment in the project. 

Feedback Earth Inc. – Grafton 
Feedback Earth was founded by a team from MIT to provide a scale solution for food waste upcycling. The facility uniquely de-packages and pasteurizes the waste to guarantee animal feed safety. This project involves constructing a 6,000 sq. ft. building adjacent to the existing facility that would enable for higher volumes of inbound food waste (7,500 tons per month) with additional truck docks and storage space. The company plans to create 33 new jobs, retain 13 jobs, and make a private investment of $2.5 million. The Town of Grafton has approved a five-year TIF valued at $24,424 and the state approved $495,000 in EDIP tax credits.   

Clean Crop Technologies Inc. – Holyoke 
Clean Crop Technologies uses electricity and food-grade gas to remove contaminants from seeds and foods to increase crop yields, reduce food waste and increase food safety. They have built a state-of-the art 14,000 sq. ft. facility in Holyoke with several high-tech labs and an in-house rapid prototyping shop. They plan to grow their tolling line capacity with the addition of five new machines in 2024. The company has worked closely with UMass Amherst's Institute of Applied Life Sciences and has a current partnership with Springfield Technical Community College to develop a training program for technicians. The company will create nine new jobs, retain 18 current employees, and make a private investment of $1.1 million. The municipal utility, Holyoke Gas & Electric, is offering a 10 percent utility savings over the first three years estimated to be worth $233,000 and the EACC approved tax credits in the amount of $135,000. 

Performance Food Group Inc. – Springfield 
Performance Food Group is an industry leader and one of the largest food and foodservice distribution companies in North America. The company’s Springfield location is currently experiencing capacity issues. An expansion of the facility will allow the business to continue to grow and create additional jobs. The company seeks to expand the facility by 125,000 to 150,000 sq. ft., invest more than $36 million, add 131 employees within the first five years, and retain 366 employees. The City of Springfield has approved a 10-year TIF valued at $4.9 million, and the EACC has awarded $1,637,500 in tax credits. 

Local-Only Tax Increment Financing Projects: 

TIF is a negotiated agreement between a business and host municipality. The percentage exemption applies to the incremental increase of assessed value of the parcel due to the private investment and the agreement may include exemptions on personal property tax.   

Air Energy Group LLC – Brockton 
Air Energy is a leading manufacturer of innovative compressed air and vacuum systems and specialized containers. Due to increased customer demand, Air Energy needs to expand and increase its real estate footprint. The company has proposed plans to relocate and consolidate its Massachusetts and Rhode Island operations to a new location. The proposed project consists of leasing an estimated 75,000 sq. ft. of space within an estimated 150,000 sq. ft., newly constructed building for its corporate headquarters and manufacturing operations. The company will create 43 new jobs, retain 59 jobs, and invest $21.8 million. The City of Brockton approved a seven-year TIF estimated to be worth $719,403. 

Sartorius Stedim North America USA Inc. – Marlborough 
Sartorius Stedim is a sales and service company, specializing in single-use products and equipment for the manufacture of biologics. The expansion is a 60,000 sq. ft. project to build R&D, GMP manufacturing and services support for customers. Included in these capabilities will be corporate research, process development, product development, separations services and applications Services. The construction and facility include expansive facility improvements to convert the office building to a lab/office facility. This expansion will lead to 120 new jobs and a private investment of $100 million. The City of Marlborough approved a five-year TIF valued at over $1.1 million. 

Factory Mutual Insurance Company – Norwood 
Founded in 1835, the company is a mutual insurance company based in Johnston, Rhode Island, with offices worldwide specializing in loss prevention services. Currently settled on a four-building campus in Norwood, the proposed project would create a world-class, state-of-the-art facility that would replace an existing 140,000 sq. ft. structure with a 320,000 sq. ft. R&D center. The newly designed building would feature more than two and a half times the amount of dedicated R&D lab space. The company plans to create 20 new jobs, retain 351 employees and make a $593 million private investment. The Town of Norwood has approved a 20-year TIF valued at $5.4 million. 

Prysmian Cables & Systems USA LLC – Somerset 
Prysmian Group is world leader in the energy and telecom cable systems industry. Prysmian Group will be investing $300 million to build a new submarine cables factory at Brayton Point, partnering with the state and the Town of Somerset to create a supply hub for essential components for renewable energy production to support the country’s energy transition. The Brayton Point plant will be a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility on 47 acres and the first location in North America with the capability to produce advanced submarine cable products. The project will create 175 new jobs with a $300 million private investment from the company. The Town of Somerset has approved a six-year TIF valued at over $20.4 million. 

Cambridge Isotope Laboratories Inc. – Tewksbury 
Cambridge Isotope Laboratories has been in Massachusetts for more than 40 years. The company specializes in creating isotopically labeled compounds that have a variety of uses including the production of sensitive electronics, testing for environmental contaminants and providing critical material used to diagnosis Helicobacter Pylori in humans. The proposed 70,000 sq. ft. renovation will convert an existing office building to chemistry lab space. The company plans to add 27 new jobs, retain 70 jobs, and make a $40 million private investment. The Town of Tewksbury has approved a 10-year TIF worth $5.1 million. 

Vacant Storefront Projects:  

The Massachusetts Vacant Storefront Program helps municipalities revitalize their downtowns and commercial areas. Municipalities may apply to the EACC to designate a defined downtown or other commercial area as a Certified Vacant Storefront District. After such a designation, a business may secure a commitment of local matching funds in order to apply to the EACC for refundable EDIP tax credits for leasing and occupying a vacant storefront in that district. 

Trem Caipira Restaurant Inc. – Lowell 
Trem Caipira is a Brazilian inspired restaurant offering lunch and dinner in Lowell. The restaurant has been in operation since December 2020 and wants to expand and relocate within the city to a newly renovated, long-time vacant, historic building. The City of Lowell has approved $10,000 in grant funding from its Storefront Improvement Program for assistance with signage, exterior lighting, and ADA improvements. The EACC approved $10,000 in refundable tax credits. 

Vacant Storefront Districts: 

Town of Burlington - Burlington’s Center Storefront Program has approved Cambridge Street Corridor, that runs between Route 62 and Dearborn Road, as a new Vacant Storefront District. The program assists businesses moving into vacant storefronts. The existing program is funded through a $20,000 annual transfer from the General Fund. A business applicant is limited to a total of $5,000.  

City of Springfield – Springfield's Storefront Grant Program has approved the Downtown Commerical District, boarded by Gridiron Street, Chestnut Street, Cross Street and East Columbus Avenue, as a new Vacant Storefront District. The existing program is funded through $250,000 CDBG funds annually. The program assists neighborhood businesses complete basic storefront improvement, providing up to $25,000 per storefront. Eligible businesses may qualify for an additional $50,000 of ARPA funding through Latino EDC. 

About the Economic Assistance Coordinating Council  
The Massachusetts Economic Assistance Coordinating Council (EACC) is a state board comprised of public and private sector officials that review and approve Economic Development Incentive Program projects and tax credit incentives. The EACC also approves all local Tax Increment Financing and Special Tax Assessment agreements for municipal property tax relief. The EACC’s is part of the Massachusetts Office of Business Development (MOBD) in the Executive Office of Economic Development, which assists businesses expanding in and relocating to Massachusetts, with specific attention paid to projects that create and retain jobs and invest capital. The MOBD team provides a highly responsive, central point of contact that facilitates access to resources, expertise, and incentive programs for businesses.  

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