City of Pawtucket – Mayor Donald R. Grebien
Dear Business Professional: Thank you for considering the City of Pawtucket. Whether you are the owner of an existing Pawtucket business looking to expand, someone who is looking to open or relocate your business in our city, or thinking of holding an event here, we want to be a partner in your success. It is our goal to provide you with customer service of the highest quality. The City of Pawtucket is committed to promoting smart, responsible growth within our city that respects our rich history of economic innovation, our cultural diversity, and the unique character of our community. We are truly here to help you in any way we can. Our team is always just a phone call, email, or text message away. Pawtucket is home to a vibrant business community, which also takes an active role throughout our community, individually or through partners like the Pawtucket Foundation. These leaders, from hundreds of diverse industries, possess a wealth of knowledge and a keen willingness to help other private sector ventures succeed. Experts in manufacturing, design, and sports and entertainment call Pawtucket home, and we would be thrilled to have you join them. We have created this informational packet to provide quick, convenient access to the numerous City resources you may need. From the permitting process to bidding on City projects, from licensing to tax incentives, we are here to help you do business in Pawtucket. You can contact me directly with any questions at (401) 728-‐0500 ext. 354 or at dgrebien@pawtucketri.com. Thank you again for considering Pawtucket. We look forward to working with you. Sincerely, Mayor Donald R. Grebien 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket RI 02860 P: 728-‐0500 x354 | www.pawtucketri.com
City of Pawtucket – Economic Development
INTRODUCING… The City of Pawtucket, Rhode Island Called the “place by the waterfall,” Pawtucket, with a population of 72,958, is located where the Blackstone River runs into the Pawtucket River and the tidewaters of the Narragansett Bay. The City plays a special role in the history of our country as the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. In 1793, at the Slater Mill Historic Site, power from the Blackstone River was used to spin cotton into yarn, beginning a new era of prosperity. Much has changed, but Pawtucket remains a manufacturing center with nearly 200 companies producing jewelry, metals works and textiles in the city. In recent years, Pawtucket has also become home to a growing art and design community, with more than 1,000 creative sector companies located here. Many companies have been drawn to Pawtucket’s Arts & Entertainment District and numerous historic mill properties by various incentive programs offering tax-‐free art sales, grants, targeted loans, historic tax credits and community support. Over the last ten years, more than $184 million in private development has occurred, with millions more planned. In addition to arts and history centric programs, Pawtucket offers tax-‐abatements, flexible financing plans, permitting guidance and infrastructure investments. To prepare for future growth Pawtucket has over $128 million in transportation infrastructure projects in progress or planned through 2014.
City of Pawtucket – Economic Development
ADVANTAGE PAWTUCKET Unique Qualities that set Pawtucket Apart
The City of Pawtucket offers a unique economic opportunity for entrepreneurs, artisans and major corporations alike. Whether you’re a brewer in search of fresh water, a designer in need of creative space or a major corporation frequently servicing clients in Boston and New York, Pawtucket makes for an ideal location. Businesses already located in Pawtucket have told us that these are the reasons they are here. We think these advantages are worth your consideration as well.
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Transportation Access – Pawtucket is well positioned in the Providence metropolitan area. We are just 10 minutes from Downtown Providence and even closer to the East Side, home to Brown University, RISD and a growing density of young professionals. Because we are located just north of Providence, our driving commute to Boston is 45 minutes. Providence traffic can also be avoided via the South Attleboro MBTA commuter rail station, located just over the line in Massachusetts. For those occasional New York trips, we are 3 hours by car or train.
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Water Treatment Facility – Installed in 2008, the City of Pawtucket’s state-‐of-‐the-‐ art water treatment facility is capable of pumping 26 million gallons of water through 8 intake screens, 4 up-‐flow clarifiers, a deep bed activated carbon filters and ultra-‐violet disinfection. That’s a lot of clean water! Perfect for water-‐intensive industries like apparel, biotech/pharmaceutical, hi-‐tech electronic, food and beverage manufacturing.
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Tax Rates – Pawtucket’s commercial property tax rates are comparable or better than surrounding communities. Local leaders work hard to hold the line on taxes while continuing to provide quality services. Commercial property tax rates are currently 3.088%, well below Providence (3.675%), Central Falls (3.461%), Cranston (3.426%) and Woonsocket (3.827%). The City is also willing to negotiate phased tax abatements with businesses making significant property investments. These price advantages as well as affordable land prices and rents, ensure that businesses of all scales have a chance to compete in Pawtucket.
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Creative Economy – As Rhode Island’s original creative community, Pawtucket has an established population of artists, designers and creative sector businesses. Since the creation of Pawtucket’s Arts & Entertainment district in 1998, the City has worked hard to attract more than 3,000 creative sector jobs. Support includes a dedicated Economic & Cultural Affairs Officer, arts related grants, an annual arts festival, active artist organizations and the ability to sell unique, hand made art sales tax free throughout the city.
City of Pawtucket – Economic Development
ECONOMIC TOOL BOX Pawtucket’s Economic Development Program
The City of Pawtucket works to attract, retain and grow businesses, with a customer-‐ friendly approach. Services include personal guidance through the zoning and permitting process, flexible financing tools and connections to business services offered by area chambers of commerce, the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, Small Business Administration and Small Business Development Center. If you lease, there are a variety of lending programs to consider: • Commercial Ventures – Provide matching loans to retail and service-‐sector borrowers including start-‐ups. Eligible uses of funds include inventory and lease-‐ hold improvements (term not to exceed 3 years, maximum loan up to $10,000). • Equipment Loans – Providing matching loans to industrial borrowers working to purchase equipment or upgrade existing equipment. Borrower is allowed to borrow up to 90% of value of equipment (not to exceed 5 years and $50,000). • Working Capital Loans – Provide working capital for inventory materials, marketing and related expenses to industrial and commercial borrowers (not to exceed 3 years and $50,000). Relocation loan-‐related expenses for businesses moving into the city are included in this program. • Restaurant Loans – Providing incentive funding for the improvement and/or expansion of restaurants located in the City’s 307-‐acre Arts & Entertainment District or those interested in relocating to this area. Borrower is allowed to borrow up to $50,000. The terms of the loans are determined by use of funds: Working Capitol (3 years); Real Estate (10 years); Equipment (5 years). • Fire Safety Loans – Providing building owners and long-‐term lessees with funding to upgrade existing commercial properties to meet Rhode Island’s Fire Safety Code. If you purchase, the City of Pawtucket can also assist you in purchasing your building: • Real Estate Loans – To enable industrial and commercial borrowers to acquire and rehabilitate real estate. Borrower is allowed to borrow up to 90% of the value of the real estate (not to exceed 10 years and $100,000).
Other Economic Development Services: Whether you lease or purchase, here are additional economic development programs that your company may be eligible for: • Data Base – Utilizing the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation’s state-‐of-‐the-‐art database that allows the City to quickly respond to inquiries for information about properties in Pawtucket that are for sale and/or lease. Detailed information about each property is made available including characteristics such as ceiling height, loading docks, utilities and asking price for sale and/or lease. • State Tax Incentive Program in City’s Arts & Entertainment District -‐ Providing state income tax incentives for eligible artists residing in the City’s Arts and Entertainment District. Eliminates sales tax for artwork purchased from eligible galleries and artists in this geographical area. (see attached “HUB & Enterprise Zones, Arts District”) • Enterprise Zone Assistance -‐ Providing assistance for eligible companies in applying to participate in the state’s Enterprise Zone Program. (see attached “HUB & Enterprise Zones, Arts District”) • Pawtucket Redevelopment Agency’s Commercial Rehabilitation Loan Program -‐ Providing assistance to commercial property owners in physically upgrading their Pawtucket properties. Loans from $10,000 to $100,000, at a 5% interest rate. • City Council’s Tax Stabilization Treaty – The City offers a tax stabilization treaty for projects that create employment opportunities. This program phases in increases in property taxes for new construction or rehabilitation of property. • Streamlining Pawtucket’s Regulatory Process – The City of Pawtucket works together with developers to bring their buildings up to fire and safety codes. Every Wednesday, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., the Zoning, Fire, and Planning & Building Departments meet together with developers to discuss their specific projects. Once a month, a meeting is held between developers and City regulatory officials and the Mayor’s Office to determine how the City can continue to streamline its regulatory process while ensuring safety. In addition, a Building Permit Manual has been compiled codifying the City’s permitting process. Contact: Herb Weiss, Economic & Cultural Affairs Officer City of Pawtucket, Department of Planning & Redevelopment 175 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860 401-‐724-‐5200 | hweiss@pawtucketri.com
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17 proposed commuter rail station 18 planned street improvements 19 planned street improvements 20 completed I-95 bridge/street improvements
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3 blackstone valley bike trail 4 1-acre river park 5 18,500 sq. ft. site, medical office 6 10+ acre mixed-use site 7 100,000 sq. ft. commercial 8 126,428 sq. ft. mixed-use 9 10,440 sq. ft. live/work 10 3-acre brownfield redevelopment 11 39,556 sq. ft. mixed-use 12 19,023 sq. ft. residential 13 1.2 million sq. ft. mixed-use 14 13 units residential, 630 sq. ft.commercial 15 $2 million recreational redevelopment 16 56,000 sq. ft. retail and office
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36
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21 mixed-use, 33 units affordable housing 22 33 units addordable housing 23 14 affordable condo units 24 10,219 sq. ft. mixed-use 25 90 apartment units 26 25 condo units 27 8,428 sq. ft. commercial 28 124 apartment units 29 21,000 sq. ft. mixed-use 30 32,000 sq. ft. medical office 31 82,162 sq. ft. mixed-use 32 43,011 sq. ft. commercial 33 150,240 sq. ft. mixed-use 34 60 live/work condos 35 13,199 sq. ft. office 36 blackstone valley bike trail
City of Pawtucket ‒ Testimonials
DOING BUSINESS IN PAWTUCKET Business Community Testimonials
Pawtucket leadership continually demonstrates its commitment to improvement. Mayor Grebien and staff have always gone the extra mile to help my businesses, while civic organizations like the Pawtucket Foundation further enhance the City’s growth prospects. - Scott Davis Owner, Rhode Island Antiques Mall
Pawtucket is a fantastic place to work and to do business. The City leaders and everyone on their team go out of their way to make every interaction with City Government easy, streamlined and productive. It really is extraordinary and has to be experienced to be believed. - Jonathan N. Savage Partner, Shechtman Halperin Savage, LLP
People involved in the City of Pawtucket were very helpful in helping me find a studio space. I feel lucky to be working in this expanding city. - Gretchen Dow Simpson Artist
The assistance and encouragement we received from the city administration was invaluable in completing the rehabilitation of the former T.K. Club into our new office. We’re proud to call the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution our home and look forward to another 30 years of doing business in Pawtucket! - Stephen A. Olausen Executive Director, Public Archaeology Laboratory
Pawtucket was a natural when we considered opening our Forget-Me-Not Gallery on Park Place. Artists, historic preservation, culture and the one-on-one guidance from Pawtucket’s economic development staff is all in one place!
- Denise Panichas Executive Director, The Samaritans of Rhode Island
City of Pawtucket ‒ Testimonials
DOING BUSINESS IN PAWTUCKET Business Community Testimonials
For more than a decade, since The Gamm Theatre decided to move from the capital city to Pawtucket, the company has received an extraordinary level of assistance from the city, its leaders and employees. In the past several years, Mayor Grebien and the City Council have demonstrated in many ways that they recognize how The Gamm contributes significantly to the quality of life in Pawtucket. - David M. Wax Managing Director, The Sandra Feinstein Gamm Theatre
The cooperation between Pawtucket city and business leaders is unparalleled in my experience. I appreciate the collective spirit to improve our community economically, socially and aesthetically. - Kathleen A. Bartels Principal, LLB Architects and developers, The Design Exchange
In 2003, we made the decision to relocate our Company to the City of Pawtucket. Since that time, we have found a partner in City Hall. In our experience, the City of Pawtucket has been an active participant in the growth of the business community. We are more than satisfied with our decision. - Armando Nieves
President Armando & Sons Meat Market Group
Pawtucket’s emphasis on development and their customer friendly focus helps in our efforts in updating mill space and placing new tenants in our projects. - Len Lavoie Principal Broker and Development Coordinator, RICIR