NEW: Former Telegram Building Gets $16M in Funding for Renovations

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

GoLocalWorcester Business Team

The former Worcester Telegram & Gazette building on Franklin and Federal Streets will soon be home to a new QCC campus, a business incubator, a café; a black box theater; and professional office space.

MassDevelopment has provided total financing of $16,246,036 to complete renovations to the former Worcester Telegram & Gazette building on Franklin and Federal Streets.

The financing, which includes a $12 million New Markets Tax Credits allocation and $4,246,036 in direct loans, will be issued to New Garden Park Inc., an affiliate of the Worcester Business Development Corporation (WBDC).

“The Telegram & Gazette property is a crucial element as we invest in the future of downtown Worcester,” said Congressman Jim McGovern. “I appreciate the dedication of the financing partners to see this project through, one that will be a catalyst for future downtown development.”

New urban campus

The 135,000-square-foot facility in the City’s central business district will house Quinsigamond Community College’s (QCC) new urban campus for its Allied Health Services and Workforce Training and Employment Programs.

“The renovation of the former T&G building is an excellent example of transformative development: revitalizing urban sites in the downtowns of our Gateway Cities to spur activity and growth,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Marty Jones. “We’re pleased to work with our longtime partners at the WBDC and local banks to provide opportunities for education and jobs in Worcester.”

The building’s plans also call for a business incubator, a café; a black box theater; and professional office space.

Financing

MassDevelopment participated in the primary financing for this project with lead lender Fidelity Co-operative Bank and six other local participating institutions: United Bank, Webster Five Cents Savings Bank, Bay State Savings Bank, Commerce Bank, UniBank for Savings, and Middlesex Savings Bank.

“Fidelity Bank is committed to the redevelopment of Worcester and is honored to lead the senior debt financing of this tremendous project,” said John Merrill, President and COO of Fidelity Bank. “We greatly appreciate those local banks and MassDevelopment, who share our same commitment, for their participation in the bank financing. This project is a critical component to the redevelopment of downtown Worcester. We applaud the vision and commitment of the Worcester Business Development Corporation for undertaking this challenging and important initiative.”

Worcester's commitment to the project

The City of Worcester has committed $2.5 million to the project through its U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 108 Loan Program. In addition to these funds, the City, through its Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund, has provided a $250,000 grant and a $250,000 loan to assist in the remediation of this property. The Worcester City Council has also executed a 20-year Tax Increment Financing agreement for the 20 Franklin Street facility. Other funding sources include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Property and Casualty Initiative. New Markets Tax Credit allocations were provided through the Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation, MassDevelopment, U.S. Bancorp, and The Community Builders.

“The financing of this project is a key stage in the redevelopment of the former T&G building and the overall revitalization of Downtown Worcester. Programs such as New Markets Tax Credits, combined with the financial collaboration of local banks, have helped to make a redevelopment project of this magnitude become a reality,” said Craig Blais, President & CEO of the WBDC. “The WBDC is fortunate to have such great community partners that share in the vision of creating a Downtown Worcester for all to enjoy.”

Home to 1,800 students and 75 faculty

About 75 faculty and staff from QCC expect to locate in the downtown campus in the fall of 2014, along with about 1,800 students that will attend classes at the new location. The business incubator will also provide a platform for the 30,000 college students in Worcester to develop or research an idea or start a business. Students, entrepreneurs, and the unemployed will also have access to the incubator. Overall, the facility will provide opportunities for collaboration between academic, industry, and government stakeholders in job training and education.

About MassDevelopment

MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development agency, works with businesses, nonprofits, financial institutions, and communities to stimulate economic growth across the Commonwealth. During FY2013, MassDevelopment financed or managed 350 projects generating investment of more than $2.4 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are projected to create more than 7,000 jobs and build or rehabilitate 800 residential units.

Related Slideshow: Central MA Brownfield Sites

Glossary

Brownfields (BF) are defined as real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.

RCRA Corrective Action (RCRA) sites are facilities which treated, stored, or disposed of hazardous wastes. These facility owners are required to clean up environmental contaminants released into soil, ground water, surface water, and air at their sites under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

Short Term/Removal (SHORT) sites are typically hazardous waste sites that do not require a long-term cleanup process are considered short-term cleanups (also referred to as "removal actions").

Long Term/National Priority List (NPL) sites are, in most cases, sites that require long-term cleanup end up on the National Priorities List (NPL). The NPL is a published list of hazardous waste sites that are eligible for extensive, long-term cleanup actions under the Superfund Program

BP: Brownfields Program

NEW: Former Telegram Building Gets $16M in Funding for Renovations

Related Slideshow: Central MA Brownfield Sites

Glossary

Central MA Regional Planning Commission

City of Worcester BP

Coes Knife Property

Main South Community Development Corporation

New Garden Park Inc.

South Worcester Neighborhood Improvement Corp.

Wyman Gordon - Worcester

Central MA Economic Development Authority

Town of Brookfield BP

Town of Northborough BP

City of Fitchburg BP

Milford Bike Path

Town of North Brookfield BP

Net Optics Corp.

Safety Kleen

City of Gardner BP

Fisherville Mill

Temple-Stuart Site

Hocomonco Pond

Genrad Inc

ECC - Holden

Waters Analytic Instruments

Wyman Gordon - North Grafton

Simplex Time Recorder Company

Evergreen Solar Emergency Response

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