Barre City Place
by Cody Morrison, Executive Director, Barre Area Development Barre Area Development, Inc. (BADC) turned 60 years old month. Since its founding in 1961, BADC has been involved in many activities that have improved civic pride and the economic, social, and cultural quality of life in Barre Town and Barre City.
Made up of a volunteer board of directors and, since 2008, a full-time Executive Director, BADC has collaborated with local stakeholders to be a successful economic development force for the Barre area.
Since their creation, they have focused on industrial, commercial, and retail development by providing information and support to potential new and existing businesses in Barre Town and Barre City. Overall, the goal is to help grow the local economy.
Whether you are going to the downtown bakery for a pastry or work for a local manufacturer, their impact in the community can be seen every day in Barre.
BADC is responsible for the development of the Wilson Industrial Park, the current Highland Sugarworks building in the Wilson Industrial Park, and the Malden Mills building in Barre Town. They also assisted in the creation of the Barre Town Forest.
Additionally, BADC participated in the development of City Place, the Blanchard Block, and Enterprise Aly in downtown Barre and helped established the Barre Revolving Loan Fund to assist local businesses.
With the support of the City and Town, BADC recently established a brand, Barre Rock Solid, and a marketing website to extensively market the Barre area as a special place to visit, live, and work. Barre’s story is now being told in statewide and national business publications, newspapers throughout Vermont, on social media, and on the Barre area’s official marketing website www.barrevt.com.
BADC collaborates with the Barre Partnership, the City’s Main Street Program, and many other organizations in Barre.
Recently, with the launch of the Barre Rock Solid marketing program, BADC has begun to build strategic partnerships with state-level and regional business groups such as the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Associated General Contractors of Vermont, and Vermont Association of Realtors to help grow Barre and tell the community’s story.
BADC is available to provide technical assistance to businesses in Barre and those who are looking to relocate. Information is available for those seeking business finance solutions, grants, commercial real estate, business coaching, networking, or have questions on regulatory requirements.
BADC can be reached by phone at (802) 476-0660, by email at [email protected], on Facebook at @BarreAreaDevelopment, or on their website www.barrevt.com.
Wilson Industrial Park