Priority Sites Brayton Point Commerce Center Somerset | 1 Brayton Point Road One of two decommissioned coal-fired power plants in Somerset, this site has already benefited from significant U.S. EDA investment that is crucial to future redevelopment.31 Thanks to its deep-water port – a rare and strategic asset along U.S. East Coast – and strategic location on Mount Hope Bay, Brayton Point offers significant opportunity to contribute to electricity transmission capacity and the Marine Science and Technology sector – especially off-shore wind support industries such as subsea transmission cable manufacturing.
Strengths
Primary Owner(s): Commercial Development Co.; Prysmian Group
Stakeholders: Town of Somerset; Brayton Point Neighborhood; Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Prysmian Group
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Good, diverse infrastructure Competitive housing costs and new transit connections to Boston Strength in health care, manufacturing, value-added agriculture, and fishing Cities and large towns with growing and increasingly more diverse and educated populations
Weaknesses
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Opportunities
Development Type: Brownfield Remediation and Redevelopment
Proposed Investments and Initiatives: Prysmian Group proposes a 550,000 s.f. manufacturing facility on 47 acres. This $300 million private investment would create over 350 new jobs. The project would require new roadways and potential water and sewer infrastructure estimated at between $2-$4 million. Related Sites: The nearby Montaup site (Somerset)32 has potential for deep-water port activities. The site has been advertised for sale along with its companion property across the Taunton River in Fall River at Weavers Cove, which has direct rail freight frontage. 31 www.eda.gov/archives/2022/success-stories/edd/stories/somerset-ma.htm 32 www.masscec.com/resources/montaup-power-plant
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Despite gains, our workforce development efforts are not keeping pace with competitors and the modern economy Modern infrastructure investments – especially in ports, water, sewer, and broadband – are still required for more growth
Total Available Acres: 300
Proposed Use: Manufacturing and Assembly, Green Energy Storage and Distribution, Off-Shore Wind Maintenance and Service.
Improved educational attainment can be advanced through strategic workforce development that is tailored to the “biotech” manufacturing, MST-based, and health care industries Comparatively lower housing costs and improved transit connections to Boston can lead to vibrant TOD/mixed-use development and can continue to attract younger, more educated residents Our region has numerous remaining development sites where we can leverage state and federal infrastructure funding to encourage growth
Threats
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Perceptions of persistently high unemployment and low educational attainment
