The Town of Franklin - a growth community with a pro-business environment

Jeffrey Nutting, Town of Franklin

Downtown Franklin

The Town of Franklin is a growth community with a pro-business environment, has ample industrial and commercial land, and a modernized infrastructure. Residents and the business community share a low single tax rate, excellent municipal services, numerous recreation opportunities for those of all levels of ability, superior education system and diverse housing opportunities.

Our business community enjoys good transportation networks with access to two exits off I-495, within close proximity to the Mass. Tpke. (I-90) and I-95. We have well maintained major and minor local and regional roadways, as well as two MBTA commuter rail stations.

Franklin's Town Council form of government makes for a streamlined permitting process that many other communities are not able to offer, allowing for quick project review and easy permitting, not to mention Franklin's willingness to work with business to offer the best economic incentives for both the town and the business community. In addition, the town's Department of Planning and Community Development works with various state agencies and officials in an attempt to attract companies to the town's vacant or underutilized office, warehouse and manufacturing facilities. In the future, the town expects to continue attracting manufacturing and office uses as employers increasingly look to locate in the I-495 region.

As a member of the I-495/95 South Regional Economic Target Area, the town can offer businesses wishing to locate or expand in Franklin a local tax incentive through tax increment financing. Franklin supports the use of this local tax credit for a wide range of development projects, including projects that create a significant number of livable wage jobs for Franklin residents, support innovative technology, and result in redevelopment of empty or underutilized industrially zoned properties, or development of new facilities. Attracting businesses by utilizing tax increment financing agreements is a means to promote a higher level of commercial and industrial investment, in the interest of increasing employment options for the town's residents, and increasing the town's commercial and industrial tax base.

Much like our streamlined permitting process, obtaining a tax increment financing agreement from Franklin with its Town Council form of government is relatively quick in comparison to most other Massachusetts communities. In addition, companies wishing to come to Franklin have direct access to the director of Planning and Community Development, the Town Council's Economic Development Committee, and myself.

Franklin's economic health has been and will continue to be strongly correlated to its continuing commercial and industrial development, a fairly fast permitting process, strategic location along I- 495, two commuter rail stations, and convenient access to Boston, Providence and Worcester.

Franklin is a place that many not only work in, but also are also happy to call home. We have a great quality of life here in Franklin.

Franklin is truly the complete package. Many opportunities await your business, employees and their families.

Jeffrey Nutting is the town administrator for the Town of Franklin.