Middlesex 3 Coalition Spotlight: Rob Anderson, Community Development Director at the Town of Billerica

What is the most exciting economic development project for your community in 2020? Excitement is somewhat tempered by the fact that economic development projects often take years to reach fruition. However, in 2020 Billerica will see the continued construction of EMD Serono’s $64 million, 140,000 s/f expansion to their facility and 211-units of luxury apartments on the Middlesex Tpke., the expected completion of 151-units of senior housing as Billerica’s first mixed-use project, and the permitting of a new distribution facility of over 700,000 s/f in conjunction with Tewksbury and Lowell. 

What attracts businesses to your community? First and foremost, businesses like Billerica’s location given the proximity to three major highways – Rte. 3, 495, and 128. In addition, the highly educated and diverse skill set of Billerica’s residents and the ability to pull the most talented individuals from the surrounding areas on a robust transportation network make filling the open positions easier for companies. When those benefits are combined with cost-effective real estate prices for the urban Boston core, there is a lot to like about finding a business location in Billerica.

What would you tell companies looking to move to the M3 region? When asked about the Middlesex 3 region, I always tell people that there is a sense of camaraderie within the area. Each municipality understands that in order to succeed, there needs to be a collaborative effort. Not all the employees working in Billerica live in Billerica, so creating housing options and maintaining transportation infrastructure both within our community and regionally can breed the success that can help all residents.