Fall River Science and Technology Park, Commerce Park, and

Public Industrial Park

Fall River, Freetown | Access to this area is provided by Route 24, at exits 8A, Airport Road and 8B, as well as Innovation Way.

Located in the northern portion of Fall River are the Public Industrial Park, Commerce Park, and the South Coast Life Science and Technology Park, which covers approximately 900 acres. This area represents a major regional employment center hosting more than 120 industries providing some 7,000 to 8,000 existing jobs serving the Greater Fall River area and the region. Further development is currently constrained by water and sewer capacity limitations.

Primary Owner(s): City of Fall River

Stakeholders: City of Fall River, Freetown, Surrounding Communities

Total Available Acres: Approximately 300

Development Type: Expansion

Proposed Use: Warehouse and Distribution, Manufacturing, Office

Proposed Investments and Initiatives: In 2021, EDA invested $1.3 Million to engineer and permit 27,000 linear feet of existing sewer to improve flow and capacity in the area through future upgrades and replacement. SRPEDD expects once this project is completed, the city will partner once again with the agency to pursue funding for construction.

Related Sites: Freetown Riverfront Executive Park

Strengths

• 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

• 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

Opportunities

• 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

• Perceptions of persistently high unemployment and low educational attainment