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Smiling from Ear to Ear, Gardner MA Mayor Michael Nicholson Treats Chair City to Great News in Weekly Update
The Mayor spoke about some local events, but the Big News in this update was positive business and development news for Gardner. Nicholson mentioned the large number of businesses which have opened in the past year and those which have opened recently. He told of the revitalization efforts in Downtown saying, “I’m really excited to see what Gardner looks like in three years as a result of all of these different revitalization projects, these businesses opening and everything else that’s happening in the City right now. It really is an exciting time for us all .”
Grant Announcements
Mayor’s Nicholson really lit up as he explained the City’s good fortune in being awarded various grants this past week from the Commonwealth’s Community One Stop Program.
| $155,500 Site Readiness Grant for a feasibility study to see where the City could put a new industrial business park and how successful that would be as other industrial parks in Gardner are full. |
| $40,000 Technical Assistance Grant to explore whether or not Gardner should be looking to implement a District Increment Financing Program. |
| $30,000 Commonwealth Places Grant to buy parklets to create barrier seating areas to be put in parallel parking spaces as rented by a restaurant. |
| $25,000 Mass Downtown Initiative Grant for Wayfinding Signs to make it easier for residents and visitors to find what’s available in Downtown. |
| $17,000 Collaborative Workspace Grant for the Wachusett Business Incubator to revamp the incubator’s work to help local businesses grow. |
Various Items Covered
In various items, the Mayor spoke of the Yard Waste pickup being on residents’ normal pickup days in the coming week and that tax bills are due November 1st. He reminded everyone that the next two bills should be lower as the tax rate is adjusted in December, and that new growth was recently certified as $415,000. He also stated the he will propose $875,000 in initial spending of the $2.6 million in certified free cash with the remainder reserved for later in the year when needs are better known such as extra snow and ice which is projected to be just under $600,000. The Mayor also stated that this year’s Tree Lighting will be a bit more special as it is Gardner’s 100th Christmas as a City. He also reminded the City of Early Voting hours and congratulated the Gardner High School Wildcat Marching Band which received the Silver Medal at the Statewide Marching Band finals.
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