Town of Swansea Announces Economic Development Initiatives Aimed at Luring New Businesses

The Town of Swansea granted a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to Isabellenhütte USA, which has opened a location at 1199 Grand Army Of The Republic Highway in Swansea. Town officials recently attended the new business’s ribbon-cutting. (Photo Courtesy Town of Swansea)

SWANSEA — Town Administrator Mallory Aronstein and Assistant Town Administrator/Community Development Director John P. Hansen Jr. are excited to highlight a series of recent economic development initiatives and best practices that have been implemented to entice businesses to locate in Swansea.

“Businesses shape and mold a community in so many ways and are a critical component of a strong economic fabric for a town like Swansea,” Town Administrator Aronstein said. “We strive to be a welcoming host and a partner to those entities seeking to locate here and to provide jobs and other supportive opportunities to our Town.”

These initiatives and best practices include:

• A commercial vacancy list is posted on the Town’s website and is updated semi-annually.
• Swansea achieved designation as a participant in the PACE program with MassDevelopment, permitting low-interest loans to upgrade energy-efficient building systems.
• Opportunities for Tax Increment Financing (TIF) — a public financing method used as a subsidy for redevelopment, infrastructure, and other community-improvement projects — utilized to keep local businesses rooted in or interested in locating to Swansea.
• Production of a promotional video spotlighting the Town’s features, departments, and business-friendly climate and suitability to host a workforce.
• Development of a Business/Permitting guide, outlining processes for opening a business and the permits needed.
• Forging strong relationships with local property owners, including those of the Swansea Mall who developed a real estate flyer of availability and site features for future tenants. 
• Online permitting is available for building permits, Board of Health approvals, and, coming soon, permits from the Town Clerk’s office.
• The Town offers Business Spotlight opportunities that involve video promotion.
• A major sewer infrastructure project is underway, transforming potential land use along the Town’s business corridor, on Routes 6 and 118.
• A Land Use Study has been completed for Routes 6 and 118 outlining priority development sites, appropriate uses, and recommended zoning changes, analyzing demographic information comparative to industries most likely to find success.
• A study of Route 103 and its development opportunities is currently underway.
• Establishment of a local permitting review team to engage developers and business owners early in permitting processes to prevent wasteful costs and better guide businesses through permitting nuances in Swansea and Massachusetts.

“The Town of Swansea recognizes the importance of small businesses and the role they play in our community,” said Assistant Town Administrator/Community Development Director John P. Hansen Jr. “We have been taking a multi-prong approach to entice the creation and relocation of new businesses in Town. Whether you’re just getting started, or you need a new home for your longstanding business, the Town of Swansea welcomes you.”

For more information, contact Assistant Town Administrator/Community Development Director Hansen via email at jhansen@swanseama.gov.

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