Gateway Park

Gateway Park

Gateway Park is a 11-acre development located in Worcester’s North Main Street area. It is a starting point for the community’s biotechnology and life sciences industry which gives further opportunities to the Worcester science community.

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Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts

Hanover Theatre

The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts is a prime example of Worcester community partnerships. This historical landmark has added to the cultural environment since its opening in 1904, and its remodeling in 2008. It is a local destination.

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UMass Science Park

UMass Science Park

The Massachusetts Biotechnology Research Park was built in 1985- one of the first parks in the country devoted exclusively to biotechnological sciences. The Park’s occupants range from internationally known leaders to smaller groups of innovators.

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Welcome

Welcome to the WBDC! The Worcester Business Development Corporation was founded by people from your community, for your community. It works as a collaboration between public and private sectors to create a healthy economy in the Worcester area. We do this by recognizing and reacting to challenges in the local economy. Our main goal is to assist in the development of businesses in Worcester and foster growth of entrepreneurs in the area, as well as expand the tax base and promote employment opportunities. We are your neighbors, your support system, your friends.

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06Dec Draper mill demolition: Worcester developer to raze Hopedale complex

Draper mill demolition: Worcester developer to raze Hopedale complex

By Jennifer Toland, Telegram & Gazette
During its hey-day in the early to mid-20th century, the Draper Corp. in Hopedale was the country’s leading manufacturer of power looms for the textile industry and employed more than 3,000 people. A centerpiece of the town’s history, the 80-acre, 1.8 million square-foot complex has sat vacant f
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02Dec Shawarma Palace moves into WBDC-owned building on Franklin Street

Shawarma Palace moves into WBDC-owned building on Franklin Street

By Monica Busch, Worcester Business Journal
Worcester restaurant Shawarma Palace is moving from its Pleasant Street location and into a vacant restaurant space at 20 Franklin St., a building owned by the Worcester Business Development Corp., WBDC announced on Wednesday. Shawarma Palace originally opened in 2014, and specializes in both shawar
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02Dec Draper factory, iconic Hopedale landmark, to be almost fully dismantled

Draper factory, iconic Hopedale landmark, to be almost fully dismantled

By Alison Bosma, The Milford Daily News
HOPEDALE — Nearly the entire former Draper factory complex in downtown Hopedale is now fated for demolition. “…. we determined that, as much as we would have liked to save it, and look for a re-purposing option, the severe deterioration and safety concerns were more than we were comfortab
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  • Katie Krock
    Katie Krock Managing Member

    Central Building Development Group

    What Our Clients Say About Us

    “For those contemplating complex and challenging development projects, there is no better partner than the WBDC. Their dedicated and knowledgeable staff approach projects with tenacity and creativity.  The WBDC shepherds projects from inception through completion tackling challenges ranging from historic restoration, brownfields cleanup and tax credit financing.  The successful redevelopment of 332 Main Street would […]

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  • Mike O’Brien
    Mike O’Brien CEO & Principal

    Galaxy Life Sciences

    What Our Clients Say About Us

    “Galaxy Development and Galaxy Life Sciences are honored to be chosen by the WBDC to complete the development of The Reactory biomanufacturing park in Worcester.   The new buildings will add several hundred jobs to the City and substantial tax revenue.   What the WBDC has been able to accomplish creating the park from the former State […]

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  • Chip Norton
    Chip Norton President

    Franklin Realty Advisors LLC

    What Our Clients Say About Us

    “The WBDC has been instrumental in many of the major development efforts in Central Massachusetts, for over 55 years. Franklin Realty Advisors LLC has partnered successfully with the WBDC for over 30 of those years.   Their efforts over many of those years has resulted in an enormous economic impact in the area of positive economic […]

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  • Julie A. Jacobson
    Julie A. Jacobson Town Manager

    Town of Auburn

    What Our Clients Say About Us

    “The WBDC has successfully facilitated several regional initiatives that have created jobs for residents in Central Massachusetts and resulted in economic spin-off for the Worcester Region. The Hanover Theater is a spectacular example of the type of public-private partnerships that the WBDC has forged to stimulate economic development. The Hanover Theater attracts hundreds of thousands […]

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  • Gail E. Carberry, Ed.D.
    Gail E. Carberry, Ed.D. Former President

    Quinsigamond Community College

    What Our Clients Say About Us

    “The Worcester Business Development Corporation has worked closely with Quinsigamond Community College to enable the college to expand its specialized educational and training facilities. WBDC and QCC have always worked as ‘hand and glove’ organizations. The college has focused on developing a workforce to support regional business development, while WBDC has worked to ensure the […]

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  • Tim Murray
    Tim Murray President & CEO

    Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce

    What Our Clients Say About Us

    “Throughout the past 15 years I have had the opportunity to work with the WBDC in various roles that I have held as Mayor of Worcester, Lieutenant Governor, and now president and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce. Throughout that time, the WBDC has been leading transformative collaborations with local business institutions and […]

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  • Kevin O’Sullivan
    Kevin O’Sullivan Former President & CEO

    Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives (MBI)

    What Our Clients Say About Us

    “The Worcester Business Development Corp has been at the forefront of many of the major economic development projects that have created thousands of jobs and millions of dollars of tax base for Worcester, Central Mass and the Commonwealth. MBI has had the pleasure of working with the WBDC on projects ranging from the Biotechnology Research […]

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  • Troy Siebels
    Troy Siebels President & CEO

    The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts

    What Our Clients Say About Us

    “WBDC was a key partner in the $32 million dollar historic restoration of The Hanover Theatre in 2007-2008, and has been a strong ally ever since. The WBDC’s Theatre District initiative, began with the creation of a master plan for the district in 2012, is intended to leverage the theatre’s 200,000 annual visitors to build […]

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  • Jeffrey Solomon
    Jeffrey Solomon Executive Vice President and CFO

    Worcester Polytechnic Institute

    What Our Clients Say About Us

    “For many year WPI worked in close partnership with the WBDC on making The Gateway Park project a reality. In fact, it was the WBDC’s initial vision that ignited WPI’s own passion for this project, leading to the university’s investment of more than $110 million thus far. Working together, we transformed a blighted and underutilized […]

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  • Edward M. Augustus, Jr.
    Edward M. Augustus, Jr. City Manager

    City of Worcester

    What Our Clients Say About Us

    “The WBDC has played a key role in the development of Worcester, with a strong focus on rehabilitating contaminated properties and buildings. Out of the numerous projects they have accomplished, a few stand out, helping to establish Worcester as a leader in the biotech and life sciences industries as well as home to world-class performing […]

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