Director’s Report: You Can Make It Here, Manufacturing Booming at Brunswick Landing
With the former Naval Air Station Brunswick (NASB) now being closed for eight years, manufacturing is driving much of the economic development success at the former base properties, now known as Brunswick Landing and the Topsham Commerce Park. The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA), working with our private sector partners, have attracted more than 130 companies to the 3,300-acre property. Nearly 30% of them are engaged in some form of manufacturing activities, and more than 40% are new businesses to the State of Maine. Our goal of becoming a tech hub with centers of excellence in our target sectors (aerospace, biotech/biomed, composites, cleantech/renewable energy, IT) has become a reality. To date, more than 1,900 jobs have been created, including more than 220 Science, Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing (STEM) positions. Additionally, the total annual payroll generated by businesses at Brunswick Landing and Topsham Commerce Park is estimated to be more than $110 million. If business growth continues at its current pace, MRRA estimates the payroll will surpass the Navy’s total annual peak payroll of $140 million within the next two years. Read more about manufacturing boom at Brunswick Landing in Mainebiz and Times Record.
TechPlace Close to Full Capacity with 38 Resident Companies
There are now 38 businesses in TechPlace, Brunswick Landing’s technology and manufacturing incubator located in former Navy Building 250. Of the 90,000 SF, more than 90% is occupied. Recent companies to move into TechPlace include: Legacy Aircraft Group, The Maine Extraction, Hydro Tech, Seed2Health, and Arcadia Alliance. Collectively, the TechPlace businesses have created nearly 100 jobs, including more than 60 manufacturing positions. Additionally, Field Phyto-Nutrients recently announced a new product launch, an algae-based health supplement for pets. Mainebiz wrote a story about FPN’s success in a recent edition of the business magazine.
Redevelopment Statistics Indicate MRRA is Surpassing Many of Its Goals
MRRA continually measures a number of redevelopment metrics for its Key Performance Indicator Dashboard. It releases the report to the public from time to time, typically at the end of the calendar year and end of the Fiscal Year. Statistics on job creation, real estate development, and airport activities are a few of the categories that are tracked and covered in MRRA’s Dashboard report. To see the whole report, visit our Dashboard web page.
Featured property: Hangar 4
After several years of renovation work, Hangar 4 is ready for occupancy. The hangar bay totals about 40,000 SF and can handle a pair of C-130 or P-3 sized aircraft. LED lighting, new radiant heat, insulation, 24-foot bifolding door, and a newly painted floor are some of the features that make this facility practically brand-new. The large south door has 40’ of clearance for large planes. We built about 4,300 SF of brand-new shop and office space on the west side of the building with direct access to the airfield. More info. on Hangar 4 »
West Maquoit Vinegar Works Opens Manufacturing Facility at Fuel Farm
We’re pleased to welcome one of Brunswick Landing’s newest businesses – West Maquoit Vinegar Works. West Maquoit recently moved into the former (Navy Fuel Farm Pumphouse). The building is about 2,000 SF and was previously the home of bluShift Aerospace. West Maquoit, owned by the Brunswick husband-and-wife team of Brad Messier and Elizabeth Guilbault, produces vinegar from locally sourced beers. Visit the West Maquoit Vinegar Works website for more info.
Record Air Traffic at BXM; New GA Hangar Under Construction
Brunswick Executive Airport (KBXM) is having its busiest summer ever. BXM had a record number of flight operations in June (2,567) an increase of more than 30% over last year. July was even busier with more than 3,300 ops, also a new record. We’re on pace for more than 27,000 for the year! In the midst of all the traffic, we’re in the process of building a new 15,000 SF hangar for general aviation customers of FlightLevel Aviation, BXM’s FBO. The $3.5 million hangar is expected to be ready by September. Click here to view photos of the hangar construction. Other airport projects this year include stormwater drainage repairs, airfield electrical upgrades, wildlife fence improvements and obstruction clearance. Altogether nearly $2 million has been invested the projects, which will make the airport safer and save us money in the long-term through preventative maintenance.
Summer Projects Quickly Nearing Completion
MRRA is building a new facility for Blue Dog Daycare. Once complete in September, Blue Dog, one of Brunwick Landing’s fastest growing and most popular business, will move into a the new 6,000 SF building. The move is being made both to accommodate Blue Dog’s growth and to make way for a 54,000 SF medical office building construction project at its current home in the old SeaBee compound. A couple of blocks away, workers are putting the finishing touches on a new road and entryway into Brunswick Landing. The quarter-mile road will connect Route 24 (Gurnet Road) with Admiral Fitch Avenue and help alleviate traffic congestion at the Bath Road entrance near Cook’s Corner.
